The crisis of the coalition for the reform of the
law of only yes
is yes has reached such a level that in the Spanish political world various sectors openly speculate on the possibility of the government breaking up after three years.
But from Brussels, in an appearance that ended at three in the morning after a very long European Council, Pedro Sánchez has completely ruled out that scenario.
“I already tell you that there is no rupture, the coalition is not going to break, that is not contemplated.
The progressive coalition government continues.
Today we have approved an important law that places us at the European forefront of protection of all animals”, the president said firmly when asked by the press.
Sánchez, visibly concerned about the political and social consequences of this fiasco, has said on several occasions that the important thing is to think of the victims and solve the unexpected problem that has resulted in more than 500 sentence reductions for sexual offenders.
But he also wanted to avoid a clash with Podemos and reduce the tension.
In fact, the president has expressly supported Irene Montero, despite the fact that in the socialist sector of the Government the discontent with the minister is very evident, which is harshly attacking the other part of the coalition, which he accuses of wanting to "return to the Penal Code of La Manada" with the reform promoted by the Minister of Justice, Pilar Llop, and which Montero flatly rejects because it incorporates violence or intimidation as an element that justifies higher penalties.
In a tone of great concern, Sánchez has insisted on several occasions on sending a message to the victims, who are the ones who suffer the most from these reductions in sentences.
“I ask not to forget the victims.
Nobody wanted this situation.
We have to preserve a law that represents a very important advance.
We have to review the technical issue that has caused the unexpected reduction in sentences.
The proposal that comes from the Ministry of Justice and has now been registered by the Socialist Group answers both questions.
Preserves consent and provides a technical solution to the problem."
Sánchez has made it clear in several questions that at this moment he is not willing to make a direct intervention to solve the problem and call Minister Montero to chapter or attempt a political management with the Podemos sector to reduce the tension.
The decision that the president has taken, and which is a political gesture in favor of a possible agreement, is to remove Llop from the negotiation, with whom Montero has openly clashed, and leave things from now on in the hands of Félix Bolaños and María Jesús Montero as negotiators with the groups.
For this reason, when asked if he was going to be personally involved, Sánchez has repeated twice that now the negotiation "passes to the parliamentary groups", that is, it leaves the Government and, therefore, Justice and Llop.
Now it is necessary to see if Irene Montero also goes to the background within the negotiation with United We Can or remains in the front row.
“Now this is in the parliamentary process.
All groups have to find a solution to this social alarm generated by the reduction in sentences.
Asked about an apology from the Government to the victims, Sánchez has been clear.
"I'm sorry about this situation.
And I think that solidarity must not only be conveyed to the victims with words, we have to do it with deeds.
That is why we must tweak from a technical point of view an important issue that is creating this social alarm so that it does not occur again in the future.
If there is something that unites all the groups, it is not lowering the sentences for the aggressors.
We must resolve this alarm with a reform of a law that had a completely different purpose.
The groups have to debate and come to an agreement.
We have the duty and the obligation to solve it”.
Sánchez has also claimed that, despite internal tensions, the coalition has been very stable and he believes that it will continue to be so.
"After almost 200 laws and three State Budgets, the coalition government can be recognized as having provided stability to respond to the pandemic, the war, the social and economic transformation agenda," the president concluded.