Spain’s Socialist party was hit by a “coup” attempt on Wednesday with half of its leadership quitting in a bid to oust leader Pedro Sanchez and unblock the country’s political deadlock.
But while Sanchez remained silent, his ally and party number two Cesar Luena told reporters the 44-year-old remained firmly in place.
Tricks and coups don’t have their place here. The Socialist party leader is its secretary general, and the PSOE’s secretary general ... is Pedro Sanchez
The Socialists (PSOE) have for months been wracked by internal dissent over Sanchez’s leadership during Spain’s nine-month political stalemate, as rival parties fail to agree on a government following two inconclusive elections.
The party took a drubbing in two weekend regional polls, scored historically low results in December general elections, and in a repeat vote in June as voters flocked to other upstart parties.
“Seventeen resignations ... were handed in today,” a party spokesman said.
With two separate, earlier resignations, this takes the number of party executives that have quit to 19 out of 35.
