In two minutes and fifty seconds of appearance without questions, Juan Lobato left the future of the Madrid PSOE in suspense this morning. Even if some members of the party expected that the current leader of the PSOE-M would present his resignation, Lobato is resisting and his team is already planning to fight at the next congress of the Madrid federation, which will take place after the federal one which begins . this year Friday.
Lobato chose to intervene in the office of the parliamentary group in the Madrid Assembly, and not in that of the party. He sat alone and took a sip of water before beginning to protest the “lynching” of “some leaders” of the party, whom he did not name. On the one hand, contemplating the scene, a dozen members of his executive accompanied him to inform him that he was not alone in this umpteenth fratricidal fight within the Madrid socialist federation. Lobato says he believes he cannot be punished for going to the notary and that “it seems that the bad guy is precisely the one who decides not to do harm.”
Lobato’s plan during what promises to be a long week is to only make statements to the media after he appears before the Supreme Court this Friday to present the notarized document that led him to this mess. The one in which, according to the version given so far, it is proven that the email from the prosecution brandished at the Regional Legislative Assembly to reproach the tax evasion of Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s boyfriend came from journalistic information and not from Moncloa, contrary to what ABC published when revealing the existence of the document.
Sources from Lobato’s team recognize some moments of anxiety in the leader when he learned of the request from the instructor of the Supreme Court, Ángel Hurtado. But this morning, the general secretary seemed relatively calm, even if the faces of the socialist office had remained serious all morning. Once he arrives at the Supreme Court and has given his explanations, Lobato plans to take the car – his team excludes that he will be charged – and go to Seville to participate in the federal congress of the PSOE, where the atmosphere seems just as eventful . The Madrid leader aspires to overcome the trance and accelerate the work with the activists for the following week, when the congress of the Madrid federation will be held and the primary process will begin, scheduled for January 11.
The PSOE-M leadership is awaiting confirmation of the alternative candidate, which, according to Lobato’s team, could be none other than Minister Óscar López, activist of Las Rozas, although Lobato himself clarified the matter in his direction . . responsibility in the use of electronic mail for which the Supreme Court is now calling him to account.
Lobato loyalists are already poring over lists and spreadsheets of activism numbers to secure the 7,000 votes out of 14,000 that would give the candidate victory. One of the most powerful groups, that of Fuenlabrada, supports one of Lobato’s main rivals, Mayor Javier Ayala. With Sara Hernández, Getafe advisor, she will be one of the most visible supporters, a priori, of Lobato’s rival.
Regarding the involvement of Moncloa in the race, the team of the still regional secretary understands that it will not be able to go much further than influencing the socialist mayors so that they exercise influence over their groups. According to them, the feeling of grassroots activism is very variable and it is very important that the candidate is someone who has worked in the territory. Lobato was elected in 2021 but in 2017 he had already participated in a primary, in which he was beaten by José Manuel Franco, so we understand that he has an advantage.
