Pedro Sanchez didn’t have an electoral act in Castilla y Leon in his plans for Thursday. However, at the last minute he decided to attend a rally in Burgos along with Luis Tudanca (the socialist candidate for Presidency of Board) and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the former Prime Minister. He had to change his plans because of the positive electoral prospects that the PSOE has.
Castilla y Leon’s socialist leader is now carrying out the reverse campaign to the one he did in Madrid last May. He has chosen to keep a lower profile after being faced with the leadership role he played in the melee with Isabel Diaz Ayuso. He only took part in three acts: electoral in Palencia and Zamora, and Leon. These are being added to this Thursday in Burgos, and Friday in Valladolid at end of campaign.
It is a much smaller presence than Pablo Casado, but it has increased to include visits, meals, rallies and visits, particularly agricultural ones. Sanchez’s role has been that of a speaker, with speeches that are tailored to the canons.
Socialists aren’t going to be feigning surprise and they are very clear that there are no chances of them repeating their 2019 results, which saw them as the most voted for force. Their polls show that they have good electoral prospects and are very close to popular expectations. Sources from the federal leadership confirm that Castilla y Leon will not suffer the same fate as Madrid’s PSOE disaster.
In a cheerful outburst Tudanca has spoken out to discuss negotiating with Podemos and Ciudadanos as well as the candidacies from the empty Spain to govern. The Socialists are confident that their mobilization will be noticed. Especially since the PP acknowledged that it was willing to accept Vox. Ayuso made it first, and Alfonso Fernandez Manueco followed his lead this Thursday. It is well-known that left-wing voters are motivated by the possibility of an extreme right ruling.
Even if participation is low. There are many factors that can hinder the flow of people to the polls. In addition to the cold Castilian winter and the fact that these are regional elections, they also have the benefit of not being accompanied with municipal ones. There will be 300 fewer polling stations in 2019 than there were in 2019. Many small towns won’t have one, so their residents, which number close to 100,000, will need to travel to larger cities to vote.
There are other indicators that indicate a lower participation rate than in 2019, which was 66%. For example, voting by mail has dropped by 40%.
YolandaDiaz’s presence in this campaign was more visible than Sanchez’s. He starred in his sole appearance in the campaign, and did it without any Podemos officials. He expressed his delight at living in small towns, which reminds him of his Galician roots. He said that these towns are home to “humble” people who live in harmony with each other and are led by leaders who strive for “the common good.”
