Jordi Sevilla launches manifesto to reclaim social democracy within Spain's PSOE

Jordi Sevilla's manifesto calls for a change of course in Spain's PSOE to halt the rise of the far right

Spanish politics has paused to watch the Socialist Party's new internal offensive. Jordi Sevilla, a former minister and former chairman of Red Eléctrica, published a manifesto on Monday through his platform Socialdemocracia 21. His diagnosis is blunt: the party's current leadership has fuelled the rise of the far right and a loss of support. The proposal is clear — to rebuild an autonomous, social-democratic project focused on citizens' concerns and open to democratic consensus.

The reaction to the initiative was swift. In political circles, it is seen as an attempt at window dressing, an effort to refresh the party's image without really changing the power structure. Many observers argue that the real aim is not to win elections but to keep the right out of power, preserving the internal code of silence that defines the Sánchez faction.

The manifesto, which appears without any visible signatories, seeks to be a rallying point. Yet distrust of the PSOE's old guard is widespread. After the era of figures such as Susana Díaz and Felipe González, hopes that a former minister can turn things around are met with scepticism. The prevailing view is that the party has surrendered to a narcissistic leadership that tolerates no criticism.

Criticism of the party's current drift

Sevilla's document blames the current leadership for embracing a drift it considers 'Podemos-style'. The criticism echoes those who argue that the PSOE has lost its traditional social-democratic identity. The proposal sets out clear red lines: no deals with Bildu and no bringing Podemos into government. It also promises to bring Puigdemont before the Spanish courts.

However, the lack of visible signatories weakens the initiative. In a context where loyalty to the current leader is absolute, the discretion of potential supporters suggests the movement lacks the strength to challenge Pedro Sánchez's caesarism. The old guard, including former figures such as Zapatero and Felipe González, seems more interested in the survival of the system than in genuine renewal.

The irony of the moment is that, while the party is consumed by these internal power struggles, Spanish society faces economic and social challenges that demand concrete solutions. The promise of a change of course sounds good on paper, but the PSOE's recent history suggests that leadership changes do not guarantee policy changes.