Pedro Sánchez agradece a Zuloaga, felicita a Casares y llama a la unidad

The Secretary General of the PSOE and President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has thanked the former leader of the Cantabrian Socialists, Pablo Zuloaga, congratulated his successor in the position, Pedro Casares, and called for unity within the party, which is what «is needed now», following the XV Regional Congress held this weekend where the leadership was renewed, approved by 66 percent of votes.

In his closing speech at the congress on Sunday, Sánchez dedicated some words to Zuloaga, also the former Vice President of the regional government, for the work he has done in recent years, which have not been «easy», highlighting the «milestones» achieved by the outgoing team.

The federal leader also congratulated the new leadership, now headed by Casares, whom he praised for his «commitment» and being «one of the best deputies» in the Socialist Group in Congress.

He then called for unity, as Casares did, because according to Sánchez, that is what «is needed now», as the socialists have ahead of them the task of winning the regional and municipal elections in 2027 and once again the general elections.

THANKS TO ZULOAGA

Sánchez began his speech to close the congress, held over two days at the Paraninfo of the University of Cantabria (UC), by thanking Zuloaga, who lost the primaries to Casares a month ago, for the work he has done, leading the party and also the regional government last term, as «they have not been easy years».

Among other things, he highlighted the PSOE’s work in passing laws such as the Science Law or the Democratic Memory Law, now repealed by the PP with the parliamentary support of Vox; the management during the Covid pandemic or projects like the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria (MUPAC), «milestones» achieved by the party «led and commanded» by Zuloaga.

«I believe it is fair to recognize that work and know that it is always an asset for the Socialist Party of Cantabria and for the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party,» expressed the federal secretary and Spanish president.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CASARES

He then congratulated Casares: «We have been together for many years, I have known you for a long time, always grateful to you and to many members of the Socialist Party who believed in me, who supported the political project that we started many years ago,» he recalled.

Sánchez highlighted the commitment of the Secretary General of the PSOE in Santander, a profession as a professor – with a position at the University of Cantabria – his «commitment» to this institution or his «brilliant» and «intense» oratory, which make him «one of the best deputies we have in the Socialist Parliamentary Group».

He is the spokesperson in the Economy area and, in his boss’s words, has intervened in the Lower House and has been a speaker in defense of laws that «very well synthesize what the PSOE represents» where it governs or where it has to raise its voice, such as those related to fiscal justice, great fortunes or the bank tax, which «bears the signature of Pedro Casares», as well as the law on startups and business growth.

UNITY IS NEEDED NOW

In his speech, Sánchez also referred to the space named after «one of the most distinguished Cantabrians», Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, a native of Solares, who was Minister of the Interior or Education, and who passed away almost six years ago, a space that is the seed of the future training school for the region’s socialists.

Paraphrasing his words that «the PSOE does not owe me anything, I owe everything to the PSOE» and also alluding to the «unity» called for by Casares in his speech, Sánchez stated that now that the new Executive Committee of the PSC has been voted and chosen, with some supporters of Zuloaga integrated, «unity is needed now, because what we have ahead is winning the elections in 2027, the municipal, regional, and once again the general elections.»

This is something that must be done with «commitment», as he added, showing that the Cantabrian socialists defend their land and their ideas «against all odds» in the face of any interests that may be against them, «from powerful people who want to maintain the status quo so that nothing changes and inequality and lack of integration perpetuate, something that has always happened since we have been in government,» he emphasized.

COMMITMENT AND UNITY

In his speech, at the «most participatory and open» congress, Casares assured that the members of the new leadership will dedicate more of their time to Cantabria and work to improve the lives of its citizens, as they are «committed» to this land, its inhabitants, and issues such as health, education, employment, companies, self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, housing, science, innovation, new technologies, culture, history, or traditions.

«Committed to what we were, what we are, and what we will continue to be. In short, an egalitarian, fair, diverse, inclusive, and plural Cantabria,» he summarized. «Our commitment is to work for Cantabria and with loyalty to this land,» he added.

Like Sánchez, Casares also called for unity, because «if the PSOE is united, the strength of our initials is unstoppable.» «Let’s come out united and proud» of the congress, he asked of the attendees.

And just as he did at the opening of the congress, in the closing, the new leader of the PSC once again acknowledged and thanked those who preceded him in the party – Jaime Blanco, Lola Gorostiaga, and Eva Díaz Tezanos, in addition to Zuloaga – highlighting their «work and example.»

«You are the best that the PSOE has,» which will always be «indebted» for the work done by these initials, he said. Following this recognition, and looking to the future, Pedro Casares admitted that they have «a lot of work» ahead in the next two years, and regarding the upcoming elections, he stated that «the left knows, can, and wants to govern.»