Candidate debate marked by the rise of nationalisms

The first debate that preceded the general elections next Sunday in Spain has reinforced the possible alliances that will define the future government, which is played between the continuity of the socialist Pedro Sánchez or a coalition of right-wing parties backed by members of the government. far right Vox.

"The only formation that can stop the three rights is the PSOE (Socialist Party)," said Sanchez, who resisted the hard-fought attacks of his current rivals, the Popular Party (PP) candidate, Pablo Casado, and citizens. , Albert Rivera. "He thought (US President Donald) Trump was not going to win, and he won, that Brexit was not going to happen, and it happened, and I thought Ciudadanos would not. It was not going to agree with the far right, and it worked, and the far right in this country is fearsome, "warned Sanchez, apocalyptic.

"You are not my opponent", married Casado Rivera, who tried to badert himself as the leader of the right, in front of a PP which, while holding out his hand, reproached him for his corrupt past.

Pablo Iglesias warned that political fragmentation is a reality and that "one-party governments are over". As a result, he sought Sanchez for a coalition executive, although he challenged him to answer if he agreed with Citizens.

Between four

The four main candidates for the presidency of the government, the Socialist Sanchez, the conservative Casado, the liberal Rivera and the progressive Iglesias (of Unidos Podemos) were broadcast on RTVE public television during a first debate, very intense, which will be reissued today in the television networks of Atresmedia.

After a campaign that had so far failed to advance the intention to vote (there was a large number of undecided) and in the context of such a high percentage of undecided, Sanchez was the one who had the most to lose because he is leading the polls. And the perception that the right-wing bloc will not reach the absolute majority will ultimately harm the socialists, who need as much as possible of the center-left electorate to impose it.

His strategy was to act as president, and he partially succeeded, moving away from it, until he launched the idea that he was not there. had only two options: "move forward or backward".

The big surprise of the debate was the aggressiveness of Albert Rivera, who managed to break Casado's strategy and his intention to turn the debate face-to-face with Sánchez.

PSOE advantage, but without a clear majority

The elections, for the moment, have an open phase.

One in four voters have not made a decision, polls predict a victory of the PSOE, Pedro Sanchez, with about 30% of the vote, but that would be insufficient to determine who will reach the parliamentary majority, which defines the sign of future government.