Madrid, June 25 (EFE).- Spain’s congress of lawmakers on Thursday approved a non-binding motion urging Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to resign over corruption investigations involving figures close to him and his Socialist Party, although the opposition stopped short of filing a no-confidence motion.
The proposal, promoted by the conservative People’s Party (PP), passed by 178 votes to 171 with support from right-wing and far-right opposition parties.
As the result was announced, PP lawmakers chanted «resign, resign,» while Sánchez, members of the government and lawmakers from the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) responded with a standing ovation.
«We are facing a very serious situation after a debate on corruption that affects the prime minister personally, as well as his government and his party,» opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said.
However, Feijóo argued that the conditions were not yet in place to present a no-confidence motion against the government.
The PP leader insisted that any democratic European prime minister should heed the will of parliament and warned that failure to do so could set an unwelcome precedent in Spain and across Europe.
For the government, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament Félix Bolaños dismissed the initiative, arguing that the motion would have «zero political impact.»
Separately, around 1,000 PSOE members, former members and supporters issued a statement calling on Sánchez to bring forward general elections and step aside as party leader.
The group urged the party to confront what it described as a «critical situation» by holding an extraordinary federal congress, launching a leadership primary process and calling elections before the end of the year.
Last week, opposition parties also secured approval for a parliamentary motion highlighting what they described as the government’s political weakness and legislative paralysis, although that initiative did not call for early elections.
Sánchez is facing mounting political pressure due to a series of corruption investigations involving former ministers and former associates.
Several members of his family, including his wife and brother, are also the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.
Former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is also a member of the PSOE, is reportedly under investigation in a separate case involving allegations of influence peddling, money laundering, document forgery and participation in a criminal organization. EFE
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