What does Spain's new government stand for?
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented the cabinet for his third term on Monday. Twelve of the twenty-two ministerial portfolios went to women. In making new appointments Sánchez favoured experienced local and regional politicians from his PSOE party. Five ministries went to Sumar while the other left-wing party in the coalition, Podemos, came away empty-handed. Commentators on both sides of the political spectrum take stock.
22 firefighters against right-wing arsonists
Ctxt.es is keeping its fingers crossed:
“Twenty-two ministries 'to face a legislature with a strong political profile', as the prime minister put it speaking from the steps of the Moncloa Palace [the seat of government]. In other words: these are the men and women who in the coming years will be tasked with putting out the fires set by a right-wing that is ready to burn down everything in its path. ... The composition of the new government, the harmony between Pedro Sánchez and Yolanda Díaz and the plan to consolidate what has been achieved so far herald an internally calm legislative period. Which of course has nothing to do with true calm when it faces a right wing that is already moving into the forest with cans full of gasoline. Having a good team of firefighters is vital.”
A loyal but bland team
The new cabinet is weak, says ABC:
“Sánchez's aim is essentially to strengthen the links between the government and PSOE. ... He has created a low-risk cabinet with the sole ambition of holding out. The only merit of many of his ministers lies in their unwavering loyalty to their leader and their attrition potential vis-à-vis the opposition. The prime minister promised to build a wall, and he has found the right people to do it. ... The new Sánchez government is characterised by a lack of ambition and a pure will to survive a legislative period which looks set to be full of tensions.”