MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spanish Socialists target “a grand coalition of progressive parties”, Portugal model

“We say 'no' to a grand coalition between the PP and the Socialists, and we say 'yes' to a government that brings together all the progressive forces” said Sanchez

Almost three weeks on from Spain’s election, which left a fragmented Parliament, Socialist Party leader Pedro Sánchez ruled out a coalition with the conservative People’s Party (PP) on Thursday and said he was seeking “a grand alliance of progressive forces” to lead the country.

 “We say 'no' to a grand coalition between the PP and the Socialists, and we say 'yes' to a government that brings together all the progressive forces that want to change Spain and repair the damage the right wing has done over the last four years,” he told a news conference in Lisbon after meeting fellow socialist António Costa, Portugal’s prime minister.

In both Spain and Portugal, the Socialist Parties were the main opposition forces leading into elections late last year but shed supporters to the far left.

However, Mr. Costa surprised commentators by pulling together a multi-party, left-wing government.

But Socialist leader Sánchez did not specify how he would form common ground with the insurgent, far-left Podemos and the three or four regional parties that would be required to form a majority, which could include the Catalan Republican Left and Bildu, a radical Basque party accused of having links with Batasuna, a banned wing of the ETA.

Such a coalition would be complicated by the issue of Catalan independence. Podemos is the only national party to insist that the northeastern region of Catalonia must have a referendum to determine whether it remains part of Spain - a demand it confirmed it would not drop on Thursday.

Sánchez drew comparisons between the Spanish and Portuguese situations, saying: ”What is clear is that when the forces for change join together the people reap the benefits, and Portugal's government is the best evidence of this.”

However Alberto Rivera, leader of the recently-formed, centrist Ciudadanos (Citizens) party, said earlier on Thursday that comparisons with Portugal were unfounded because of the Catalan question.

“As far as I know, there is no party in Portugal that wants to break up Portugal. In Spain, there are parties that want to break up Spain,” he told reporters in Madrid.