Pedro Sánchez Fends Off Opposition Attacks on Health and Announces Constitutional Changes

The Spanish political scene has become an arena for an unprecedented dispute over the head of government's health and fundamental systemic changes. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, responding to intensifying speculation, publicly stated that he does not suffer from any cardiovascular disease. These attacks, initiated by People's Party (PP) deputy Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, who demanded the declassification of the prime minister's medical records, were deemed by the government side as crossing all boundaries of parliamentary ethics. Sánchez emphasized that such insinuations are the only form of politics practiced by the right, which lacks an alternative program for the country. In modern Spanish history, the health of the highest state officials has rarely been a subject of public debate, contrasting with American standards, where detailed medical reports on presidents are the norm. Within the People's Party itself, clear divisions emerged regarding the strategy adopted by Álvarez de Toledo. Some politicians from the grouping expressed visible discomfort, believing that focusing on a rival's health is counterproductive and diverts attention from substantive criticism of the government. Meanwhile, the prime minister used the media moment to announce that the Council of State had issued an opinion regarding the "blanket provision" of the right to terminate pregnancy in the fundamental law. Although the advisory body supports the idea of protecting this right, it noted that such a deep constitutional reform would require the application of a rigid procedure, involving the dissolution of the Cortes and calling new elections. „No padezco ninguna enfermedad cardiovascular. Queda Gobierno para rato.” — Pedro Sánchez In a local development, media noted a rare case of a politician self-reporting an offense. The mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, paid a fine for driving without a seatbelt, which was captured in one of her promotional videos. Although the opposition from PSOE initially pointed out this lapse, the swift settlement of the penalty and public admission of error neutralized a potential image crisis. This situation shows the growing role of social media in monitoring the actions of public officials, where even a minor oversight can become a weapon in political warfare.