- More than half of the 22 ministries of the previous Sánchez government were retained
- Formally, far-left Podemos, a coalition partner in Sanchez’s previous cabinet and now part of the Sumer bloc, formally left the government.
- The far-left Sumer will lead five ministries – labour, culture, health, social affairs and a new ministry for children and youth.
- Alberto Nunez Feijoo of the center-right People’s Party (PP), the largest opposition party, announced that the opposition would fight the new government “by all available means”.
- Online daily Vozpopuli reported today, citing sources in the security department of the Prime Minister’s Office, that Pedro Sánchez received additional police protection in connection with the ongoing protests.
More than half of the 22 ministries of the previous Sánchez government were retained. Functions of some government administrative offices were consolidated and established Two new ministries – Digital transformation and children and youth. Appointed Eight new ministers.
The new cabinet will have four deputy prime ministers – one more than the previous cabinet. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs were appointed Nadia Calvino (PSOE).
He became the second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour Yolanda Diaz, President of Sumer Constituency. Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Environmental Change and Population Challenges – Teresa Ribera (PSOE), and Fourth Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Public Works – MARIA JESUS MONTERO (PSOE).
He was the Defense Minister Margarita Robles (PSOE), Minister of Home Affairs – Fernando Grande-Marlasca (PSOE), and Foreign Minister – Jose Manuel Albarez (PSOE).
Podemos is formally out of government
Formally, the far-left Podemos, a coalition partner in Sánchez’s previous cabinet, formally left the government. Currently, the party is part of the Sumer bloc, which will co-form the new government.
According to Podemos, in Sánchez’s third government, “the conservative faction gained more in key ministries.” Podemos spokesman Pablo Fernández criticized Sánchez and President Sumer for “throwing Podemos out of the government to create a more comfortable situation for the PSOE”.
– They kicked us out so we wouldn’t say embarrassing things like – Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu should be arrested for war crimes, or that Spain should do more to stop Israel’s genocide in Palestine – and impose diplomatic ties with Israel. An arms export ban on that country, Fernandez said.
However, media noted that the far-left Sumer will head five ministries: labor, culture, health, social affairs and a new ministry for children and youth, headed by United Left spokesman Sira Reko, Sumer, who has Palestinian roots.
Feijoo: The opposition will fight in all ways
Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the largest opposition party, the center-right People’s Party (PP), announced that the opposition would fight the new government “by all means through parliament, the courts and social mobilization”.
The PP won parliamentary elections on July 23, but its leader did not receive a confidence vote in Congress in September.
The Socialists came second in the election, but reached an agreement with the Sumer Bloc and the Catalan and Basque separatist parties in exchange for their support in Congress.
The deal included several concessions: an amnesty for Catalan separatists convicted of organizing an independence referendum in 2017, which aimed to separate Catalonia from Spain.
According to the right-wing opposition – center-right BB and right-wing Vox – the amnesty violates the law’s principle.
Pedro Sanchez with extra police protection
For days now, protests have been taking place in Spain against the deals and concessions the socialist PSOE has made with separatists in exchange for their support for a third Sanchez government. Online daily Vozpopuli reported today, citing sources from the security department of the Prime Minister’s Office, that Pedro Sánchez received additional police protection in connection with the protests.
One of the anti-government rallies organized in Malaga on November 10 led to traffic chaos and serious difficulties in arranging a meeting between Sanchez and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Spanish city.
– Currently, the Prime Minister comes with 19 vehicles during his trips (from his headquarters – PAP), which is twice as many as before, Vospopuli said.
The news of extra security for Spain’s prime minister coincided with police revealing that officers detained an armed man during an evening demonstration in front of the PSOE headquarters in Madrid on Saturday.
According to the findings of the investigators so far, the man demonstrating in front of the Socialist building was the standard bearer of the Spanish army.