Post by account_disabled on Feb 18, 2024 22:25:38 GMT -5
The list will not be an elephant graveyard.” Elena Valenciano's notice to sailors, on the day of her presentation as a PSOE candidate for the European elections, seems to be coming true. The deputy secretary general has agreed with Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba not to include any more former ministers on the electoral list. The exception, in addition to Jáuregui and López Aguilar, could be José Blanco. As has been reported in these pages , Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba has received, in recent months, a large number of requests, from senior officials of the Zapatero Government , for Ferraz to include them in the electoral list for the European elections that the federal committee of the PSOE will announce this weekend. Among the former ministers who were considered to be part of the party's candidacy for the European elections were Trinidad Jiménez - some placed her as 'number 3 on the list' -, Valeriano Gómez, and Jesús Caldera . They were also joined by the Secretary of State for the European Union, Diego López-Garrido . However, according to the PSOE leaders consulted by El Confidencial Digital, none of these representatives of the socialist Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero will have a seat in Strasbourg, since Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba and Elena Valenciano have agreed not to include them on the electoral list . The same sources explain that it was the deputy secretary general , aware of the requests that came to the leader of the PSOE, who asked that these former ministers not be part of her candidacy .
Rubalcaba seems to have listened to his number two and, as they say from the game, "as of today, and barring a major surprise, neither Jiménez, nor Valeriano, nor Caldera nor López-Garrido will be on the list." [OBJECT]José Blanco may be the Phone Number List exception The former minister who may have real options to go to Strasbourg, despite the opposition of Valenciano and Susana Díaz, is José Blanco . The PSOE leaders consulted by ECD confirm that the former head of Public Works “ speaks on the phone with Rubalcaba ” and it is very possible “that he has asked him to be on the list.” Rubalcaba, who has not yet made a decision on the matter, "could include him in a position in which he secures a seat", thus offering a way out for the one who became spokesperson for the Zapatero Government. The general secretary's decision may be influenced by the pact he reached with Blanco ahead of the Seville Congress , in which the former minister guaranteed his support in exchange for the protection of the party during the investigation of the 'Champion case'. In addition to that circumstance, the Socialist Party of Galicia "has proposed him as the candidate of their federation , so he has quite a few options." The European past of Jáuregui and López Aguilar To the possible presence on Blanco's list we must add that already announced by Valenciano of two other socialist leaders who had a portfolio in the Zapatero Government: Ramón Jáuregui and Juan Fernando López Aguilar.
Although both were ministers, Ferraz explains that their cases are “different” , as they are “two people who have already developed part of their political career in Europe. “They have plenty of experience and bring added value to the list.” Other sources warn, however, that Ramón Jáuregui could surprise: “ It made him angry to be behind Elena Valenciano , and some believe that if he is not number two he could tell Rubalcaba not to include him in the candidacy.” The doubts about whether or not Jáuregui will be number two on the list have been caused by the “pressure” coming from Andalusia . PSOE leaders confirm that Susana Díaz, as head of the party's largest federation, wants to have a representative of the Andalusian socialists just behind Valenciano. Despite this, "if Ramón is second on the list, Andalusia will be number three." There are already 'fixed' on the list Although Ferraz wants to preserve the mystery until the Federal Committee this weekend, there are already some 'fixed' names on the PSOE list, as well-placed sources in the party acknowledge to this confidential source. Among the names that will appear on the list to be presented next Saturday are: -- Sergio Gutiérrez : MEP since 2009, will repeat his candidacy. He has been appointed vice coordinator of the PSOE electoral committee. He was general secretary of the Socialist Youth of Spain until 2012. -- Inés Ayala : MEP since 2009. -- Iratxe García : Also MEP in the current legislature. -- Enrique Guerrero : Secretary general of the Spanish Socialist Delegation in the European Parliament from 2010 to 2012, his return to the list was questioned, as he belonged to the Madrid federation of Tomás Gómez. Despite initial doubts, he will return to the European Parliament. -- Javier López : He has been the chosen candidate of the PSC to join the list for the Europeans.