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Sánchez is playing his term with the scope of the anti-corruption plan.

Sánchez is playing his term with the scope of the anti-corruption plan.

"We have a lot at stake," they admit at the Moncloa Palace, ahead of Pedro Sánchez's appearance today in Congress to try to contain the irritation of his coalition partners and allies over the ongoing corruption scandals within the PSOE, which threaten to bring down the government and dynamite the legislature.

Sánchez will thus roll out a "very ambitious" anti-corruption plan, incorporating proposals that both Sumar and the majority groups during the investiture process put forward.

According to La Vanguardia , the proposal would include up to 15 measures. It would not be a limited package to address the Koldo scandal and its spin-offs within the PSOE, but rather a medium- and long-term project. This initiative is aligned with the anti-corruption office proposed by Yolanda Díaz's party and includes, among other points, a 20-year ban on companies convicted of corruption from bidding for public contracts, as well as the creation of an independent body with the power to investigate and sanction violators.

The head of the Executive wants to put the PP on the ropes, also tainted by corruption cases.

Sánchez would thus seek to mark a turning point in the fight against this scourge. On the one hand, to respond to the demands made by his coalition partners. But also to put the PP on the ropes by forcing it to take a stand. Either by adopting a package that, had it been in effect during the investigation of the Gürtel or Púnica cases, would have deepened the internal rift caused in Génova. Or by refusing to agree to it, which would defuse part of the offensive that Alberto Núñez Feijóo has prepared.

The Executive warns, in fact, that corruption affects all major parties, as reflected in the European Commission's annual reports.

Sánchez's objective is to try to save the legislature amidst the storm and, at the same time, try to preserve the majority of the investiture, where the scandals involving the last two former PSOE organizational secretaries—Santos Cerdán, who is in prison, and former minister José Luis Ábalos—have opened serious rifts. But he also aims to put pressure on Alberto Núñez Feijóo.

The PSOE claims to have the confidence of the Chamber, despite the demand from the Canary Islands Coalition or Compromís

In the Moncloa, they don't expect a majority against Sánchez to be formed today. First of all, because nothing will be voted on in this parliamentary session. "If any group wants to propose a motion of no confidence, let them say so," they challenge, referring to the PP and Vox.

And although other groups, such as Coalición Canaria and Compromís, do advocate for Sánchez to submit to a vote of confidence, the Moncloa government insists: "We are convinced that we have the confidence of the majority in the House." Although they do assume there will be harsh criticism of Sánchez.

"Each group will have to choose their tone, and the side on which that tone places them," they add, implicitly alluding to Podemos. And they assure us that Sánchez's speech will be "positive and proactive." "Not to resist, but to move forward," they warn.

Sumar withstands the pressure, but will show its own profile if Sánchez doesn't convince them.

The alternative, they remind us at the Moncloa, remains a PP and Vox government. And the far-right's demands to deport immigrants—a "xenophobic delirium," as the government denounced—once again serve up Sánchez's rhetoric against the "reactionary wave," which is the best glue for the investiture majority.

In any case, Sánchez will test his standing today in Congress in a sort of final exam that will determine not only the direction of the legislature but also the cohesion of the heterogeneous bloc of partners and allies.

In this turbulent context, the confederal coalition led by Yolanda Díaz approaches the parliamentary meeting with a restrained mix of skepticism, impatience, and, above all, anticipation.

There will be no vote, but there will be an impeachment trial. Sánchez faces his parliamentary reelection today.

For days, unrest mounted over what several of its spokespersons denounced as the PSOE's "unacceptable inaction" in the face of corruption scandals. But yesterday, however, provided a glimmer of optimism after the president's entourage contacted the Sumar leadership at midday to reach a consensus on part of the package of measures.

However, the plurinational group is fully aware that Sánchez has the final say. That's why no one deviated from strategic prudence yesterday. If the package of measures proposed by the president includes part of his prescription, "the legislature could be relaunched." Otherwise, they don't rule out a different outcome: "We must be prepared for anything," warned the spokesperson for the Commons, Gerardo Pisarello, assuring that if the PSOE doesn't want to "take on the urgent needs" demanded by the citizens, "we will do it ourselves."

Sumar, in fact, has decided to take center stage in the plenary session, despite the fact that corruption is limited to the PSOE. And several voices, in addition to the parliamentary spokesperson, Verónica Martínez Barbero, will offer their various responses to Sánchez.

All of this in a plenary session in which a harsh and frontal attack is expected from the leader of the People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who—according to PP sources—will directly challenge Sánchez's parliamentary partners to "stop the nonsense" and choose between "the president or decency."

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