Sánchez rejects Page's early election call, vows PSOE will win 2027 as party feud boils over
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has ruled out bringing forward Spain's general election after a sharp public clash with regional leader Emiliano García-Page, who accused the party of being in its worst crisis and demanded an early vote.
A party divided in Madrid
The PSOE's Federal Committee session on Saturday became an open confrontation between Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Emiliano García-Page, the party's president of Castilla‑La Mancha. García‑Page used the closed‑door gathering to describe the present as "the most serious moment for the Socialist Party that I have known in our history, at least in credibility" and called on Sánchez to call early general elections.
Sánchez responded forcefully, telling critics to "abandon all hope" of an early poll and insisting the government would see out its term.There is no need to be afraid of going to the elections.
Sánchez hits back with 2016 history
In his closing address the prime minister reminded the committee that García‑Page had been among those who in 2016 facilitated the investiture of PP leader Mariano Rajoy, a period that eventually led to Sánchez's own ouster as secretary general.
He expressed confidence in winning again in 2027. Page's team retorted that the call for elections stems from what has happened "since 2023" (the pacts with pro‑independence parties and the amnesty law) and noted that Sánchez himself had once demanded Rajoy's resignation in 2018.It is clear and evident that Spain today is much better than in 2023 and far better than in 2018.
Montero warns against internal attacks
Deputy Secretary General María Jesús Montero stepped in to defend the party leadership, addressing García‑Page directly.
She urged colleagues not to "stick the knife in among ourselves," arguing that the party faces a far deeper political operation rather than a genuine corruption wave. Montero's sharp rebuke was aimed at preventing any appearance of internal complicity with opposition narratives.They are trying to mount a general cause against the Socialist Party. One thing is to answer for an irregular conduct, and quite another is to allow the right, the ultra‑right media (and sometimes judiciary) to create a sensation of generalised corruption that does not exist.
Other voices and the corruption backdrop
Digital Transformation Minister Óscar López also pushed back, saying the worst moment for the PSOE came between 1993 and 1996. He questioned why a comrade would come to a Federal Committee to say the party should stop governing. The clash unfolded as the government deals with judicial investigations involving Sánchez's wife and brother, which the leadership frames as a media‑driven campaign. Page had described the party's position as being "like it or not, without parliamentary support, with insults every day, just holding on until the last day" and blamed the federal leadership for recent regional election defeats. His call for an early ballot was the only openly dissenting voice alongside the mayor of Palencia.
- Sánchez is ousted as secretary general after opposing Rajoy's investiture; García-Page's wing favors abstention.
- Sánchez files a no‑confidence motion against Rajoy, demanding his resignation, and becomes prime minister.
- Sánchez secures investiture through agreements with pro‑independence parties, including an amnesty law.
- García-Page calls for early elections at the Federal Committee; Sánchez rejects the demand and vows to win in 2027.
