A speedy handover
It will be a case of a rapid turnover with the new incumbent taking possession as his predecessor leaves
“You will enter La Moncloa through the back door. You should be ashamed!” Words from the PP spokesperson in the country’s parliament, Rafael Hernando perhaps simply a taste of what the new Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, can expect from the PP as opposition. What is unknown though is the fate of the former PM, Mariano Rajoy , who will leave the official residence by the very same door.
The whole process is in fact more than a speedy handover of powers. Sánchez will be sworn in before the Monarch at 11 am today and quickly name a new cabinet and form a government immediately.
All of this is far from the normal handing over of power following an election. In fact, this is an unheard of precedent in Spain’s 40 years of modern democracy: the triumph of a motion of no confidence against a sitting government with seemingly enough support from Ciutadans to see it through the legislature in the face of an apparently divided opposition.
The change is a complete turnaround for Spanish politics in general and in part, a mirror of the previous, with Albert Rivera and Ciutadans being replaced by Pablo Iglesia and Podem. In recent days voices in the alternative left party have called for a coalition but it would seem that Sánchez does not have that in mind.
Quite possibly Ciutadans will, despite their numbers, take on the role of chief opposition as Rivera showed his displeasure at being usurped from a throne he though was rightfully his. His demeanour yesterday proved to Sánchez that the traditional 100 day honeymoon was over before it began.
Advisors to the new PM began work immediately in presenting Sánchez with a list of possible candidates for ministerial positions and possibly cabinet will meet as early as Monday. Among names mentioned so far are Josep Borell and Merixell Batet. Miquel Iceta, while being an ideal candidate, will probably be of more use to Sánchez on the ground in Catalonia as will Núria Parlón and Núria Marín, especially with the municipal elections programmed for 2019.