Test for Sánchez's power in the party: his candidate in Extremadura arrives behind in the primaries

David Vigario Merida

Merida

Updated Saturday, March 2, 2024-01:51

The president of the Badajoz Provincial Council,

Miguel Ángel Gallardo

, or the first vice president of the Assembly,

Lara Garlito

.

These two options have the 9,601 PSOE militants in Extremadura for the succession of

Guillermo Fernández Vara

, who has been in charge of the general secretary in this community for the last 15 years, but who decided to take a step back after not achieving the presidency of the Junta de Extremadura in the regional elections of 28-M.

The 194 Extremaduran PSOE headquarters will remain open this Saturday until 8:00 p.m. in order to open a new stage in Extremaduran socialism which, for the second time in democratic history, is in the opposition.

This fact has marked the campaign between both candidates, who have appealed to the desire for changes in the structure of the organization to recover "the hope" lost after the electoral defeat.

One, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, since his position as mayor of Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz), but above all after three consecutive terms at the head of the Badajoz Provincial Council, for which he has appealed to "municipalism" to achieve victory.

With the support, among others, of the mayor of Mérida,

Antonio Rodríguez

Osuna

, he was initially the clear favorite and was the first to announce his candidacy, even before the official process was opened, for which he received criticism from both his rival today in the primaries as well as another of the candidates who in the end did not obtain the endorsements for it, the former Minister of Health

José María Vergeles

.

The deputy secretary general of the Extremaduran socialists, Lara Garlito.EFE

Gallardo criticized that Fernández Vara had run in the last regional elections.

"He was wrong," he has come to say.

Now, he has accused his opponent in these primaries of representing the "party apparatus" and has appealed to "meritocracy" rather than quotas to achieve victory.

"Someone who says that he is going to renew the party when he has been there for eight years and has not done so is not credible," he criticizes his rival.

In turn, he has expressed that he is going to force those who hold two positions to resign.

"We will have to choose between being a senator or a deputy," he said in a clear message to the provincial secretary of the PSOE in Badajoz, Garlito's partner, and who holds both positions.

The candidate responded by accusing him of precisely the same thing.

«Is she going to be present in the Mayor's Office and in the Provincial Council?

Is she going to oppose her in the Assembly or from the deputation?

How do you plan to dedicate yourself body and soul to the party? », she snapped.

And she praised Guillermo Fernández Vara: "she represents the best of the PSOE and the best of Extremadura."

Garlito has emphasized these days that he wants a “united, strong and renewed” party.

Integrative, feminist, municipalist, internationalist, capable of providing the solutions of our time.

"Who was going to tell our grandparents that a young woman was going to be here," she said.

With more militants in the province of Badajoz, Gallardo has the majority of support in this territory, among other things due to his institutional position in the Provincial Council.

For its part, Garlito has a greater infrastructure in the province of Cáceres and, as

EL MUNDO

published , Ferraz's intention was to bet on a woman as the next socialist candidate for the Junta de Extremadura to counteract the image of the president, María Guardiola. (PP).

In the last few hours, the tension has been palpable in both candidates and the accusations have been increasing in tone, with direct reproaches in the debate they held on Monday for a period of 50 minutes.

Also by the followers of each other on social networks given the uncertainty of the result.

THE CANDIDATES

MIGUEL ANGEL GALLARDO.

President of the Badajoz Provincial Council and mayor of Villanueva de la Serena.

He has campaigned in the primaries appealing to "municipalism."

He presents himself as the candidate who appeals to "meritocracy" against the "apparatus."

He starts as a favorite.

LARA GARLITO.

First vice president of the Assembly of Extremadura.

It has a greater infrastructure in the province of Cáceres.

She is considered Ferraz's candidate because the national leadership was betting on a woman as a rival to María Guardiola (PP).