Oct
25
MADRID, Oct. 24 — Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba on Wednesday said he would not resign as leader of the Spanish Socialist (PSOE) party after his party’s disastrous showing in the regional elections in the Basque country and Galicia on Sunday.
“My companions in the party voted for me to recover the confidence of the citizens and I aim to fulfill that obligation until the end,” said Rubalcaba in a press conference.
“It is one thing to reflect, but not about resigning or about being the party candidate: that is something that is not to be touched,” he added.
The PSOE lost around 11 percent of its vote in Galicia, while in the Basque country they lost nine seats in the 75-seat parliament, losing power in the region in the bargain.
Rubalcaba described the result in the Basque country as “acceptable,” and also explained the defeat in Galicia saying: “The PP has always been strong in the region and it was difficult as the Galician people didn’t see there was an alternative government possible.”
The party’s poor display came despite the unpopularity of the economic measures being implemented in Spain by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
It follows on from the PSOE defeat in the November general election in 2011 where the Popular Party swept to power as the Socialists produced their worst electoral performance since the return of democracy to Spain 35 years ago.
This cast doubts over Rubalcaba’s leadership along with his ability to provide the energetic opposition many are asking.
But the PSOE leader insists he intends to stay on as the figurehead of his party.
“I feel comfortable within the party. I listen to what people tell me, I have made self-criticisms and listen to anyone who has something to tell me. I am in favor of seeing out mandates,” he said, promising to remain as secretary general of the PSOE until the next scheduled general election in 2016.
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