PSOE debacle in the Extremadura elections

All eyes have been on Extremadura on the occasion of the early call for elections decreed by its president María Guardiola. The interest beyond whether the PP achieved a sufficient majority to be able to govern without VOX, focused on the test that represented the wear and tear of the Sánchez Government, after the imprisonment of Abalos, Koldo and Cerdán (on provisional release) and corruption plots and complaints about sexual harassment that threaten the PSOE.

Sánchez has been linked to Extremadura due to the issue of his brother David, the musician. The hand-picked appointment of a position of director of the music conservatory prepared by Miguel Ángel Gallardo until recently president of the Badajoz council and who has been presented in the December 21 elections as an electoral poster under the shadow of prosecution for embezzlement of public funds, among other crimes, It has been a heavy burden as has been demonstrated after the results of December 21.

Extremadura, as happened with Andalusia, has been governed for many years by socialist leaders. The figures of Rodríguez Ibarra and later the more modern Guillermo Fernández Vara, sadly deceased, have dominated power for the last forty years, with the parenthesis of Monago (PP), 2011 to 2015 and currently with Guardiola since 2023.

María Guardiola at the head of the PP obtained 28 seats (38.78%) out of a total of 65 in the regional elections of May 2023, although the winner was the PSOE with the same result in seats (28) but a higher percentage of votes (39.90%). VOX obtained 5 seats (8.13%) and Irene de Miguel (Vamos), 6.01% and 4 seats. Since then, the PP has shared a coalition government with VOX, whose pact has been blown up when the latter did not support the 2026 budgets.

The Community of Extremadura has an area of ​​41,633 square kilometers, but is sparsely populated. Its population was 1,054,681 inhabitants early 2024.

His per capita income Figured at 25,224 euros (data from 2024), it represents 77% of the national average income of around 30,968 euros. It has serious unemployment problems (13%), with negative demographics. It has improved in many aspects since it was an Autonomous Community. Without an autonomous system, Extremadura would be a more than peripheral region.

In the debate of these regional elections, national issues such as the closure of the Almaraz nuclear power plant (Cáceres)which directly employs more than 3,800 workers and whose closure is pending nuclear Security Council report, would be a catastrophe for the region in terms of employment. The Autonomous Community has a communications deficit, especially by rail, and does not have national or international flights.

It has great tourist potential due to its natural beauties and historical monumental past enhanced by Museums such as the Roman one of Moneo in Mérida, but diminished by the aforementioned deficit of communications and thas future projects in mining (lithium) along with those of digital transformation focused on industry and technology incubators.

The electoral result of 21D has given the following results. With a participation of almost 10 percentage points less (62.70%) than in 2023 (72.50%), it has confirmed upwards the results of Guardiola’s PP with 42.80 of the percentage of votes and 29 seats (+1), which may be insufficient for the expectations created by being 4 away from the absolute majority.

The big loser is Gallardo’s PSOE (with Sánchez in the shadows) by obtaining a negative result, by losing 14% in percentage of votes by obtaining only 26% and obtaining only 18 seats in the Assembly. (–10)

The great beneficiary of the electoral call has been VOX, which obtains 11 seats (+6) and a percentage of votes around 17%, surpassing the PSOE as the second force in Badajoz, Villanueva de la Serena (Gallardo’s small homeland) and other important municipalities. Podemos Unidos has improved its percentage of the vote (10%) and has obtained 7 seats (+3), insufficient to compensate for the socialist bleeding

The provisional analysis of the result shows a favorable balance for the PP in national terms but with the lesson that if it wants to govern Spain it must score well its red lines for a government with VOX the German way, that is, with a clear and detailed program that allows us to avoid any disqualification regarding what is already expected: the new CEDA as in the Second Republic! The new fascism for the left!

Guadiola has fulfilled his role, although he will have to govern with VOX, and swallow the occasional toad, which is common in politics. The PSOE, with the worst historical result since 1983 in the Region, should make national self-criticism, which it does not do at the moment, by persisting in the cloud ofl Resistance Manual.

Next election station, Aragón (8F-26), where the PSOE will also be greatly harmed.