María Jesús Montero urges PSOE to reclaim 'order, security and protection' as core values. The party distances itself from PP-led rallies over Ceuta. Focus shifts to local elections and climate action.
Andalusia’s PSOE leader María Jesús Montero has called on her party to reassert 'order, security and protection' as fundamental socialist values, challenging the narrative that these principles belong to conservative parties. Speaking at the Interparliamentary meeting in Seville, Montero addressed regional and national representatives as the party prepares for the 2027 municipal elections and faces mounting criticism over the government’s response to the migrant influx in Ceuta.
Montero argued that the concepts of order and security have been wrongly monopolized by the right, especially as the crisis in Ceuta intensifies political divisions. She accused PP and Vox leaders of exploiting public fears to justify more authoritarian responses, and criticized what she described as 'testosterone-driven leadership' from Vox, which she said promotes the use of physical force. The PSOE, she insisted, must reclaim these values as integral to its project, not as ideas ceded to conservative rivals.
The Andalusian PSOE leadership has decided not to participate in Wednesday’s rallies in support of Ceuta, which were organized unilaterally by the PP through the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. While a few socialist-led municipalities, such as Espartinas and Chiclana de la Frontera, have opted to join, the vast majority of the 459 PSOE-governed towns will follow the federal party’s directive to abstain. The executive views these demonstrations as politically targeted against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Similarly, neither PSOE nor other opposition groups will attend the flag-raising ceremony at the Andalusian Parliament, initiated by its PP president Ana Mestre.
Montero also pledged a 'firm and responsible' opposition to the PP-Vox coalition running the Junta de Andalucía, and proposed a climate pact to address droughts, floods, and wildfires in the region. The upcoming 2027 municipal elections are seen as a crucial opportunity for the PSOE to rebuild its local power base, which was weakened after the 2023 local polls. The party plans to highlight policies on housing, care, and social cohesion at an upcoming municipal convention.
The debate over Ceuta’s border crisis has exposed deep rifts between Spain’s main parties. As noted in a recent report on the political fallout from the Ceuta migrant surge, calls for solidarity have been met with partisan maneuvering, complicating efforts to present a unified response. The PSOE’s current strategy reflects both the urgency of the migration issue and the broader contest over which party can credibly claim to defend public order and security.
Andalusia remains a key battleground for Spain’s political future. The region’s large population and history of socialist governance make it central to national electoral strategies. The PSOE’s focus on reclaiming core values and resisting right-wing narratives signals a shift in tone as the party seeks to recover ground lost in recent years. The outcome of these efforts will likely influence not only local politics but also the broader direction of Spain’s left in the run-up to the next general election.
