A group of intellectuals and former politicians from CS and UPyD promote a new social democratic party critical of the PSOE

MADRID, 22 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

A group of intellectuals and former politicians from Ciudadanos (CS) and Unión Progreso y Democracia (UPyD) promote 'The Third Spain', a project for a new social democratic party critical of the PSOE, which defines itself as "a reformist left" focused on the future and "conscious of Spain", who rejects "privileges" and defends the equality of Spaniards before the law as "essential".

Read the full statement here:

Manifesto Third Spain by Pablo Rodolfo on Scribd

Among the 41 signatories of this new political party are the attorney in the Cortes of Castilla y León for Ciudadanos, Francisco Igea; the founder of the orange formation, the jurist Francesc de Carreras; the former UPyD europarliamentarian Francisco Sosa Wagner; the philosopher Fernando Savater; the writer Andrés Trapiello; the lawyer Elvira Marcos; the writer Gabriela Bustelo; and the journalist and former president of the Ermua Forum, Iñaki Ezkerra.

In the founding text of 'La Tercera España', to which Europa Press has had access, the group criticizes that the country "is on the verge of implosion" with an "indecisive right" --PP-- that "does not excite its voters" and a left--PSOE-- that "has thrown its secular ideology overboard, betting on the paths of populism, personalism, opportunism and demagoguery."

Specifically, the party charges against the Government of Pedro Sánchez, "minority and hypertrophied" that in five years has given "a recital of falsehoods, contradictions, incompetence - except in matters of propaganda - and cult of the personality of its general secretary ". "All of this covers up a corrupt partisanship that includes the assault on institutions and contempt for the letter of the law and democratic practice," he emphasizes.

'The Third Spain' makes it ugly that the current leader of the PSOE wants to "remain in power" supported by a "variegated multitude of micro-parties whose only link is his repudiation of the Constitution and its institutions", in reference to Sumar and the independence groups.

Thus, he claims to the socialists that, if it were "a democratic party", it would have to recognize its defeat in the 23J elections and offer "conditional support" to the PP. However, it disgraces the two major parties that they do not form a grand coalition as has happened "in fifteen countries of the European Union" and have chosen in democracy to give in to the "identitarian and tribal blackmail of Catalan and Basque nationalism by turning them into the center of public debate, rather than confronting them together.

At this point, he also attacks the Spanish right "which seems happy with its role as a remedy for the damage and bankruptcies that the left leaves in its wake every time it leaves power" and, specifically, he also criticizes Vox, "a party minority of radical rhetoric and twinned European radical conservatism".

In line, 'La Tercera España' regrets that in Spain there is not "a non-populist and non-personalist left-wing party, a modern party, social democratic, European, with transparent, democratic and non-hierarchical conduct, which allows voters to recover the practices, values ​​and institutions of the Spanish Transition, universally admired as the longest period of concord, well-being and development in our recent history".

For this reason, 'La Tercera España' presents a party project that, in its program, includes that the separation of the three powers of the State "must be protected in our legislation." "Judicial independence cannot be left to the mercy of the machinations of the Executive. Without this independence the rule of law ceases to exist and with it democracy," he emphasizes.

The new political formation also promotes the reduction of what they describe as "politicians' advantages", among which they cite the "privilege of capacity" or that "they themselves set their own salaries and other emoluments, until they manipulate parliamentary regulations." to form and dissolve groups at their whim and convenience". It also undertakes to limit the number of ministries "to what is strictly necessary."

Furthermore, 'La Tercera España' wants to "correct the advantages enjoyed by anti-constitutional parties, overrepresented in Congress" and correct "the regrettable spectacle of deputies who use surreal formulas to swear or promise their position." They also claim that foreign policy "corresponds in its execution to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the knowledge of the entire government and the approval of the Cortes in its broad outlines."

On the social level, the party advocates that education "should be a path to social advancement, through a meritocratic system, not a kindergarten with three steps" and also criticizes that "the fight against the Spanish language in separatist communities compromise the global image of Spain".

Regarding economic measures, 'La Tercera España' points out that the market economy, despite its "inherent problems", is "the most effective means to promote economic development", remembering at the same time that state intervention in it, without However, "it should be more occasional than permanent and as supported as possible by opposition parties."

Finally, the document closes with the complaint that in the current Spanish political scenario "a reformist left, aware of Spain and focused on the future, seems absent." "A left of harmony that defends the need to look outward, at Europe, at the world. Many believe that this left does not exist. We believe that it has already arrived and that it is called 'The Third Spain'," the text concludes.