Emiliano García-Page has delivered his strongest criticism yet of Pedro Sánchez, accusing the prime minister of governing at the mercy of what he calls Spain's most uncompromising minorities, specifically Junts and EH Bildu. The public clash highlights a growing rift within the PSOE, as García-Page questions the legitimacy of Sánchez’s alliances with separatist parties.
The latest escalation followed a televised interview on Mañaneros 360º, where Sánchez dismissed García-Page’s objections as "minority opinions" within the party. Sánchez grouped García-Page with former president Felipe González, suggesting their dissent was routine and unlikely to influence government policy. Information from RTVE, Sánchez said on September 9, 2026, that disagreements with García-Page and González are "normal" and that it would be surprising if Page actually supported the government’s position.
On September 4, García-Page called the government’s new regional financing proposal the most unfair and unequal model in Spanish democratic history. He accused the cabinet of accepting ERC and Junts’ conditions.
García-Page, president of Castilla-La Mancha, accused Sánchez of double standards. He argued that while Sánchez downplays internal criticism, he has come to rely on the separatist parties he claims to keep at arm’s length. García-Page pointed to Sánchez’s policy reversals, especially on the amnesty law. Sánchez had ruled it out before the 2023 general election, then accepted it under pressure from Carles Puigdemont and Junts to secure his investiture. Reports from ABC and El Constitucional note that García-Page has repeatedly warned the government’s dependence on ERC and Junts for parliamentary support is reshaping national policy and straining party unity.
ERC has become central to negotiations over regional financing, while Junts continues to exert pressure during the parliamentary process, recent reports say. The Ministry of Finance’s proposal was approved with support from the central administration and authorities in Catalonia and the Canary Islands. Officials in Castilla-La Mancha warn that Junts may still demand changes as the bill moves through parliament.
“I cannot keep up with so many changes of opinion,” García-Page said at a public event in Guadalajara, voicing frustration with what he sees as the government’s shifting positions. He acknowledged agreeing with many government policies but said frequent reversals have eroded trust inside and outside the party. Other PSOE veterans and regional leaders share this view.
The split within the PSOE extends beyond García-Page. Felipe González and Palencia’s mayor, Miriam Andrés, have also raised concerns, though few do so as openly. At the last federal committee meeting in June, García-Page called for early elections, warning that Sánchez’s deals with separatists could hurt regional and local candidates. He also criticized the party’s reluctance to address corruption scandals involving figures such as José Luis Ábalos and Koldo García, along with ongoing judicial cases involving other party members.
Despite these warnings, Sánchez has not changed course. He rejected calls for early elections, pointing out that those demanding a vote now are the same people who opposed PSOE’s government formation in 2016, the no-confidence motion in 2018 and coalition deals in 2023. His strategy remains focused on maintaining a parliamentary majority, even if that means relying on parties that have challenged Spanish unity. EFE and RTVE report that dependence on smaller parties such as Junts and Bildu has become a sensitive issue, especially as these groups push for more regional powers and have recently clashed with Sánchez over Ceuta and migration policy.
García-Page’s latest remarks come as the PSOE faces a impressive year, with general elections approaching and uncertainty over whether Sánchez will call them before the next round of municipal and regional votes. Tensions have grown after incidents such as recent rhetoric against Spain from the Catalan far right. García-Page cited it as a warning about the risks of making concessions to separatists.
These disputes are part of a broader conflict. The PSOE’s handling of issues from the Ceuta crisis to corruption allegations has drawn criticism inside and outside the party. As noted in a recent report, the government’s response to regional crises has faced scrutiny from influential voices beyond its own ranks.
The PSOE leadership is increasingly at odds with some of its regional power bases, and García-Page is Sánchez’s most outspoken critic. The prime minister’s reliance on separatist support may help him win votes in parliament, but it is deepening internal divisions and raising questions about the party’s long-term unity. A sitting regional president publicly accusing the national leader of capitulation signals that the PSOE’s internal tensions are reaching a critical point. If Sánchez continues to dismiss dissent as marginal, he risks underestimating discontent within his own party, with consequences that could extend well beyond the next election.
