The day the PSOE lost its virginity and something more

This is truly the crisis. Much more than the Ábalos incident. Much more than the Leire incident. Much more than the accusations from the political opposition. Much more than the suspicions that, in many cases, are the true products of hoax factories. What happened yesterday was the loss of the Socialist Party's virginity in nothing less than the issue that justified the motion of no confidence that brought it to power: corruption, which reached its highest level, ensnared Pedro Sánchez's right-hand man in the party and leaves the negotiator with Puigdemont and co-author of the Amnesty Law, among other services to the Sánchez cause, useless for the future. It is no surprise that the Prime Minister, in yesterday afternoon's press conference, made an effort to display such a pained expression that it seemed tears were about to come to his eyes. It was an appearance even more contrite than the day he announced the five days of reflection to decide whether to continue as Prime Minister. By contaminating sadness, he even contaminated the good economic data, which he didn't even dare to detail.

The fact is that the OCU report contains specific data, specific dates, and specific amounts of money. His defense before the court that will try him will be very difficult. And the damage to the Socialist Party and his government is immeasurable. As I say, his innocence is over. The fact that everything in that report was discovered through the investigations into the Koldo-Ábalos case also indicates that there are points of connection that no one, not even Pedro Sánchez, according to his own admission, suspected, despite the fact that Santos Cerdán's name had been in the papers for some time, and I don't believe it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Mr. Núñez Feijoo's accusation that we are witnessing economic behavior that suggests the existence of a network that lawyers and judges won't call a "mafia" but will probably call a "criminal organization" is beginning to make sense.

Sánchez is disqualified from accusing Rajoy and Díaz Ayuso.

In terms of public opinion, the blow to Sánchez is very severe. It's fairly credible that he learned of the scandal yesterday morning, but that detail forces us to recall when Felipe González declared that he had learned about Filesa (illegal financing of the PSOE) "through the press." That weak self-defense was the moment when the then president began to lose his credibility. This columnist has not yet denied it to Mr. Sánchez, but he will possibly have to assume responsibility "in vigilando," as he and his party demanded of the PP leaders in the government. As one journalist asked at the press conference, it is somewhat strange—very strange to others—that Cerdán has deceived his direct boss for so many years without that boss, as perceptive as he is, having noticed even the slightest hint of behavior, a word, a gesture, an economic or business interest that didn't make him suspicious. It must be that the pseudo-media are more astute and intuitive than governments, with all their apparatus of power and espionage, which they apparently only practice on their adversaries.

Yesterday was one of the saddest days for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, the most painful for the Sanchista Party, its successor, and the most bitter for its leader, ideologue, and strategist, Mr. Sánchez. If his actions yesterday are to be believed, it's possible that for the first time he realized that his capacity for resilience is human, and therefore temporary, and that in politics nothing is definitive. In 24 hours, you can go from euphoria to a feeling of defeat. In a few minutes, the militant or voting spectator can go from the most enthusiastic support to the most painful doubt, ending with detachment and disappointment. This episode is surely the great lesson for someone who said so often that no one could teach him lessons in ethics or the fight against corruption.

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Despite this, and unless there's more than what's known about the Air Europa bailout or Begoña Gómez's semi-business activities or any other legally worthy matter that may come out, because we're dealing with it daily, what Pedro Sánchez won't do is call Alberto Núñez Feijóo and tell him: "Okay, Alberto, I give up and I'm calling elections." The word "surrender" isn't in his dictionary. The word that came in yesterday is corruption. Sánchez is disqualified from accusing Rajoy and Díaz Ayuso. Although, now that I think about it, if I say this, it must be... because I don't know him very well.