Former Socialist Prime Minister Felipe Gondaleth requested the proclamation today, a few days after the prosecution of Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, one of his successors, who is accused of undue influence.
The next election under normal circumstances would be held in 2027 and the current prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, a Socialist like Gondaleth and Zapatero, has so far refused all right-wing and far-right opposition calls for early elections.
“Elections should be held this year,” said the 84-year-old Gondaleth, in his meeting with businessmen.
The former prime minister’s (1982-96) public intervention comes less than a week after Thapateros was charged with undue influence over the 2021 bailout of a small airline, which he denies.
At the same time, however, Gondaleth asked that “the presumption of innocence” be respected, although he expects “explanations” from Tapatero, who ruled Spain between 2004-11.
Last week Sanchez, who has ruled Spain since 2018, expressed his full support for his predecessor. “There will be elections in 2027 and if the Spanish want it, we will be there,” he told parliament.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of Spaniards demonstrated in the streets of Madrid, responding to the call of the right-wing People’s Party (PP) and the far-right Vox, demanding the resignation of Sanchez, whom they accuse of corruption. The prime minister’s brother, David Sanchez, will stand trial on Thursday for influence peddling while his wife, Begonia Gomet, is under investigation in another corruption case. The prime minister rejects prosecutions of his family members, claiming the motive is political.
