The leader of the PSOE in Madrid, Juan Lobato, resigned this Wednesday. He did this after causing unrest within his party, which accused him of “treason” for having recorded before a notary a conversation with Pilar Sánchez Acera, chief of staff of Minister Óscar López, about the leak of the email from Alberto González Amador, Isabel’s man. partner Díaz Ayuso—to the prosecution, admitting his double tax fraud.
Here is the full text of the resignation letter:
“I have made the decision not to continue as secretary general of the PSOE in Madrid.
I am doing this to put an end to a situation of confrontation and serious division that was occurring within the party, which was only going to harm the PSOE of Madrid and the progress in unity that we had made during these three years. My goal has always been to build an ambitious and hopeful project for Madrid, and this should continue to be the case in the future.
I have always made it clear that the politics in which I believe have at their core dialogue and debate, public service, honesty and the general interest. I believe in a politics in which people with different positions can agree on things that benefit citizens. Because the common good must come before any political position.
I do not believe in the destruction of the adversary, in the annihilation of those who disagree and those who think differently. I insist: for me, politics is something else. And loyalty to my party means working to implement its principles, what it has represented for more than 145 years: equality, freedom, democracy, education and public health, the defense of most vulnerable, leave no one behind.
Finding respect and education in politics has been essential for me these three years. Have the respect of those close to you and also that of those who think differently.
None of us are essential. It is far more important at any time to protect and promote good policy than those of us who exercise it circumstantially. Without a doubt, my way of doing politics is not the same or perhaps sometimes compatible with that of a majority of the current leadership of my party. No problem. I assume it democratically. But I can’t give up being who I am and what I’ve always been.
I am convinced that the Socialist Party and its policies are best for the people. Logically, there are always things we can improve to represent the interests and apply solutions to the problems of the majority of society. But it is the policies of progress and commitment to the social majority that have guaranteed over the years and guarantee today that we live in a society that advances with outstretched hands and offers security and opportunities to all.
I think we need to bet decisively on POLITICS with capital letters. People with different opinions can add and contribute ideas. This is the policy I have applied in any place or position in which I have represented the citizens and my party. The one who listens, the one who argues, the one who does not insult or annihilate his own or the other’s, but rather tries to convince them and seek common ground. I don’t see any other way of doing politics.
My commitment to the PSOE continues and will continue to be there. Today, I am taking a step towards leadership. But you have my commitment that at every appropriate future stage, I will fulfill my responsibility as an activist to help the party continue to work to improve people’s lives. As always, alongside the thousands of women and men who share activism and the millions of citizens who cannot resign themselves to being mere spectators in this society.
The PSOE has always been an open organization, fueled by debate among all. A party that must make decisions by majority and these decisions must be argued, shared and not imposed. And in which, once agreed, they are defended and applied by all. A PSOE in which those who do not coincide with the opinion of the party leadership in each territorial area are neither attacked nor defamed.
I would like to thank the immense support I have received these days from thousands of activists from all over Spain. I hope my decision will not disappoint you. For me, this is not the case. We have managed to crystallize and make identifiable for citizens an option to do politics in a different way. With education, respect and proposals for the people. And it helped society, especially young people, to see something different and have hope. All the efforts of so many people over these three wonderful years would have been for nothing if we had, at some point, given up on exemplarity, honesty and consistency.
I end this political stage hoping to have lived up to what my parents, my teachers and many party leaders taught me. And also in terms of what I try to pass on to my children every day.
Many thanks to the thousands of activists who carried out this work. And all my support for the next leadership of the party so that it can do the best possible job in Madrid and in Spain.
Before!
A hug”
Here, the letter in PDF:
