The new Galician Parliament is formed, with a majority of the PP and the first BNG-PSOE pact

Natalia Puga Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela

Updated Monday, March 18, 2024-15:37

The Parliament of Galicia began its 12th legislature this Monday.

Just one month after the regional elections on February 18, the Chamber held the constitutive session, in which the functioning of this new mandate has already been demonstrated, with the PP with an absolute majority that also gives it the presidency, in which Miguel Santalices repeats, and a vocation for negotiation between the BNG and the PSOE.

They have agreed that both groups have representation on the Board and, in the votes, the nationalists handed over the second secretariat to the socialists.

At the Parliament Table, in addition to the re-election of Miguel Ángel Santalices for the third consecutive term as president, the incorporation of the until now Minister of Infrastructure of the Xunta, Ethel Vázquez, is notable, a movement that already anticipates changes in the future Galician government chaired by Alfonso Rueda (PP).

She was the oldest member of the Government.

Elena Candia, president of the PP in Lugo, is first vice president.

The table is completed by Montse Prado, who repeats on behalf of the BNG, and as second vice president and head of the PSOE list for A Coruña, Patricia Iglesias as second secretary.

Both parties negotiated and the nationalists explained that they were ceding that position to the PSOE "in order to make visible the plurality of the Chamber also in its management bodies."

The constitutive plenary session began with an old table that was not devoid of emotion.

Thus, it was made up of José Manuel Mato Díaz (PP), Raúl Santamaría (PP) and Iago Suárez (BNG), the three new members of the Chamber.

The first, former mayor of the municipality of Paradela and calling himself president, recognized that he is a.

"emotional moment and full of responsibility" despite it being a momentary presidency.

Once the governing body was voted and constituted, the elected deputies took a promise and oath to take official possession of the seat.

All the representatives of the BNG and PSOE promised the position, while in the PP the oaths were majority, except eight of the 40 parliamentarians, who promised it.

As is customary in recent legislatures, the BNG deputies took possession of the work of Alfonso Daniel Rodríguez Castelao 'Sempre en Galiza' and a carnation, promised the position "by legal imperative" and stated their "commitment to defend the interests and national and social rights of the Galician people".

Before ending the session, Santalices, who has been a deputy for 27 years, anticipated that this will be his last term in what is his "second home."

In a brief speech, he noted: "I hope we live up to the trust that people placed in us with their vote."

In addition, he asked for "everyone's collaboration" and made a plea "for world peace."

One of the anecdotal images of the day is left by the Democracia Ourensana party, which debuts with a deputy, Armando Ojea.

At his premiere, he cast a vote with his name to preside over the table, supported at all times, from the guest gallery, by the leader of his party and mayor of Ourense, Gonzalo Pérez Jácome.

The mayor of Santiago, Goretti Sanmartín (BNG), did not miss the session either;

the presidents of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, Luis López (PP), Ourense, Luis Menor (PP), and Lugo, José Tomé (PSOE);

the Valedora do Pobo of Galicia, María Dolores Fernández Galiño;

the PP senator José Manuel Baltar, the BNG deputy in Congress Néstor Rego or old acquaintances of the Chamber such as its former president, Pilar Rojo (PP).

Advance of the legislature

In this legislature, Alfonso Rueda's first full term as president, the PP will have its fifth consecutive absolute majority, with 40 deputies, while Ana Pontón will be, with the BNG, the head of the opposition and the PSOE of José Ramón Gómez Besteiro will be has been relegated, for the second consecutive term, to third force.

The novelty comes with the emergence of Democracia Ourensana.

After the constitutive session, Ana Pontón announced that the BNG parliamentary group, reinforced with the historic result of 25 deputies, "will make a positive opposition, focused on improving people's lives and putting alternatives on the table."

And she demanded that this "not again be a legislature in which the absolute majority is confused with absolutism."

José Ramón Gómez Besteiro, committed an opposition "with national ambition" that gives "a voice to all Galicians without leaving anyone behind", and announced a "firm, responsible and constructive" opposition.

He assessed "positively" the support of the BNG for the PSOE to enter the Table.