Zapatero asks supporters to "mobilize" in support of Sánchez and encourages him to continue leading the Government

The former socialist president of the Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, asked this Thursday "the supporters" of the PSOE to "mobilize in favor of the democracy of respect and in favor of the task" of the President of the Executive, Pedro Sánchez, after he has given up his agenda to "reflect" on whether he should continue leading the Government.

"From here we must understand and respect the president. But I ask my colleagues, my sympathizers, to mobilize in favor of the democracy of respect, in favor of justice, and in favor of Pedro Sánchez's task. We must support him, support him," Zapatero expressed in an interview on Cadena SER collected by Europa Press.

In this way, he explained, "each person can do it in a different way", whether through social network X, going "to the group", writing a letter or "expressing themselves". But, whatever the means, he has encouraged citizens to react "to the insidiousness with democratic courage and not with desistance."

Furthermore, the former socialist president has appealed directly to the current leader of the PSOE, telling him that he understands "very well the feeling and reflection that the president is experiencing," but assuring him that "this country is worth it."

"Pedro, it is worth having a country that for the first time has 21 million employees working, that has raised the minimum wage like never before (...) And it is worth recognizing the Palestinian State, which we have to do. It is worth because the cry for peace and against barbarism in Gaza motivates us, mobilizes us," he explained.

In this sense, he applauded that Sánchez has made public this reflection that "perhaps all presidents" have made in private to raise "a debate on the limits of hatred" while praising the "autonomy and courage" of the socialist leader.

Likewise, Rodríguez Zapatero has charged against a Popular Party that has "crossed the line against the President of the Government" at a "moment in which anger, insidiousness, insult, has reached the greatest limits that our democracy remembers." Something that has happened, according to the former president, "towards the person of Pedro Sánchez."

"The PP gives a charter to everything - in reference to the complaint of Clean Hands -. It is the result of its impotence and its only obsession, which is to destroy people," Zapatero declared, referring, among others, to " the entire campaign of the one who votes for you Txapote". "They have told him everything," he said.

In this way, he recalled, "there has not been a minute in which there has not been a leader of the Popular Party who insults, who expresses that hatred" towards "legitimate" policies such as the amnesty law. Furthermore, he has positively valued "a strong Government, with sufficient support" and has shown "very sincere gratitude" for "the democratic respect" that all parliamentary forces have had that made Sánchez's investiture possible.

On the contrary, he has highlighted a political climate with a "desire to harm Pedro Sánchez" around the opposition that "has its consequences." But one can glimpse a "positive part" which is that "defending that the value of the person" becomes "a priority issue" in democracy.

"I don't have any hope that the PP will make a self-critical reflection. I don't have it. But, at least, I do have hope that many democrats in this country, in favor of those great principles, make that reflection, and mobilize" Rodríguez Zapatero added.

THE COMPLAINT AGAINST BEGOÑA "DOES NOT HAVE ANY COURSE"

In another vein, the former president has predicted that the Clean Hands complaint "has no meaning", but he has asked who "is going to pay" for the damage "when that becomes clear." A damage, as he has expressed, that has "filled the glass of sensitivity" of a person who, "despite being a very determined politician, has, of course, a more human dimension."

In this sense, he has defended that the "independence of the Judiciary is absolutely guaranteed", although he has recognized that "the system can be improved." For this reason, he has called for "having some debate" in the future about the "operating scheme", but without "giving in to the blackmail of the right on the government of the judges", since, as he defends, power must emanate "ultimately" in parliament.