Spain: in full political crisis, a minister Pedro Sánchez launches his party

Is called Yolanda Diaz, is Galician and 51 years old. She is the second vice president of the Spanish government and minister of labor and social economy. And although you are part of the governing coalition made up of Psoe and Podemos, you have just presented your political project in Madrid: Sumar.

He did so on Friday, at the Matadero cultural center, an old slaughterhouse in Madrid, in front of about 5,000 people who endured the 35 degrees of this scorching summer.

Warmed up and huddled together, they showed excited about the possibility of a change in Spanish politics.

There were even shouts of “President! President!” before Yolanda Díaz opened her mouth.

“I know that politics has disconnected. I know you think politics is useless because politics has left you behind, “said this labor lawyer who took the microphone after those who took the stage with her spoke: no politicians or front-line party faces. leftist linked to Díaz but representatives of the citizen movement that the Minister of Labor wants to promote.

“The addition isn’t about parties, it’s not about acronyms. It’s about adding collective intelligence, it’s about thinking together about a better country, about presenting a country project for the next decade “, said Yolanda Díaz after listening to an environmentalist, a digital entrepreneur, a motorcycle unionist, a ‘ another Amazon unionist. , a teacher, a domestic worker defense attorney and a psychiatrist.

“In that citizen movement that begins today, I am one more piece. The lead role is yours, it belongs to all of you and if you want I join you, but the lead role belongs to the citizen, ”said Díaz.

He had anticipated it in February: «I am launching myself into this listening project. I go on tour in my country with a single vocation, which is to reduce that democratic gap between citizenship and politics in which I want to listen to social groups, professionals, women, pensioners, everyone “, he assured.

Who is Yolanda Diaz

Since she was a child, Yolanda Díaz has breathed the hardships that cost her social conquests.

He was born in a working-class neighborhood and his father, Suso Díaz, a clandestine member of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE), was general secretary of the Workers’ Commissions in Galicia. His uncle, Xosé Díaz, was a member of the Galician parliament.

She often jokes that her political destiny has been marked since she was a child: “Santiago Carrillo kissed my hand when I was four years old”, he tells of that meeting with Carrillo, who from 1960 to 1982 presided over the PCE, in addition to to have fought in the civil war and to have been a staunch opponent of Francoism.

In May 2021 and after the defeat in the Madrid regional elections to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, of the Popular Party, the former leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, announced his decision to leave the vice-presidency of Spain and his party, a position that has delegate to Yolanda Diaz.

However, in the act of presentation in the Sumar society, Díaz’s entourage preferred that there be no leaders of Podemos. Neither from the United Left nor from the Municipalities. Neither from Más País nor from Más Madrid nor from Compromís.

promises

Earlier this year, the Second Vice President and Minister of Labor managed to approve a labor reform which aims to reduce fixed-term employment contracts and favor sector agreements over agreements with companies.

And in recent weeks he has made no secret of his refusal to increase defense spending that President Pedro Sánchez promised NATO allies as a guest at the latest summit last month while delighting them with an exquisite dinner at the Prado Museum. of Madrid.

“We need patience, we have to think about ourselves, we need affection”, launched Díaz on Friday from the stage in the central square of Matadero. If we don’t love it, we run the risk of losing the country we love. “

The diverse audience applauded his slogans on public health and the education that all Spaniards deserve, on the right to a decent home.

“I like it. But I don’t know if he will become president,” a pensioner from Legazpi, in the Matadero neighborhood, commented with her neighbor.

Until the end of the year, Yolanda Díaz decided to go on tour in Spain to listen to Spanish. And only then will you outline your candidacy for next year’s general election.

“Mom, I can’t see her,” said a 9-year-old surrounded by taller people. His 5-year-old brother sat on the ground playing with stones while her mother nodded to every word she came out of Yolanda Díaz’s mouth.

The woman carried on her shoulder a cloth bag adorned with brooches and pins. “Here comes the clean air,” said one of her pins.

Madrid. Corresponding

CB