Socialists lose IU support in Extremadura

The Socialists on Monday lost the only region they had hoped to retain after their disastrous defeat at the May 22 ballot box when local leaders of the United Left (IU) decided to withdraw their support for the ruling party and allow the Popular Party (PP) to take office.

The surprise move by IU leaders in Extremadura has upset the party's national leaders, who will meet o Tuesday to see what disciplinary measures should be taken.

"Expulsion is a very strong word," said IU leader Cayo Lara, who explained that helping the conservative PP to govern "goes against party policy." Some in the IU were calling for Lara's resignation.

Pedro Escobar, the IU chief in Extremadura, insisted that he had not broken the party's rules, arguing that there was a "problem with trusting" the Socialists. Escobar said he will not take back his decision. "Let me be clear: the IU didn't give anything to the PP, only that they get to keep their seats," he said.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Socialist regional premier, Guillermo Fernández Vara, who tried to drum up support from the IU to remain in office, asked his party to respect the United Left members' decisions.

After 28 years of Socialist rule in Extremadura, José Antonio Monago of the PP is expected to be sworn in as the regional premier in the coming weeks. However, the IU's regional council voted to abstain from attending the ceremonies.

The IU has formed governing coalitions with the PP in 19 towns across Extremadura. On June 13, Lara warned IU local bosses about partnering with the conservatives. The Socialists claim that in at least 60 municipalities across Spain there were signs of the PP and IU helping each other to keep them from governing in city halls. The IU made important gains on May 22 after taking ballots from traditional leftist voters who believe the Socialists have veered away from their party's philosophy.

"If I had to make that decision in Extremadura I would put our platform on top of Vara's desk and negotiate it with him," said Lara.

Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo, an IU lawmaker in Andalusia's parliament, applauded Escobar's decision and said the party should also make a similar move in his region.

"Why should we have to pay for the Socialists' mistakes? To form a government in Andalusia with the Socialists would be suicide for the IU," Sánchez Gordillo said.

Marcelino Iglesias, Socialist Party secretary, called the events in Extremadura "unfortunate" and said the IU Extremadura leaders will have to explain to their grassroots as well as the federal committee why it had chosen to take such action.

For her part, PP congressional spokeswoman Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said that the move was "coherent" because the IU was "rebelling" against Vara.