Robles refuses to applaud Sánchez: the gesture that ignites Spain's internal war

Margarita Robles refuses to applaud Sánchez: dignity or strategy?

At today's session in Spain's Congress, the Defence Minister remained seated while the rest of the Socialist bench applauded the Prime Minister. The gesture, caught on video, has triggered an internal earthquake in the PSOE (Spain's Socialist Party) and peine the succession debate. It is not the first time Robles has distanced herself, but this time her silence spoke louder than any statement.

The gesture and how it is read

Interpretations are divided. Some see the refusal to applaud as an act of dignity, a silent protest against the government's drift. Others, more sceptical, point to a staged pose to appease the military, who are unhappy with the handling of the Ceuta crisis. A curious detail: in a second video, from another speech, Robles does end up giving some "light" applause at the end, as if not wanting to push it too far. That fuels the theory that the gesture is more choreography than rebellion. Meanwhile, the rest of the MPs, including those from the critical wing, were applauding furiously, which makes Robles's coldness stand out even more.

The context: Ceuta and the CNI

The minister has reasons to be upset. A few days ago she publicly stated that the CNI (Spain's intelligence agency) had given advance warning of the migration crisis in Ceuta, contradicting the official account. Moreover, the military deployment in the autonomous city arrived a month after the border was overwhelmed, evidence of chaotic management. Robles, who is not a member of the PSOE, is in an awkward position: she is the Defence Minister, but she does not control the party's strings. Some analysts suggest that today's gesture could be a way of pressuring to be removed, thus becoming a political martyr.

The succession and the future

At 69, Margarita Robles has nothing to lose. Some analyses suggest she could be the scapegoat of a purge, or even the candidate of the so-called "PSOE Classic" for the next elections, which according to speculation could be brought forward to March or held after the May local elections. Today's gesture could be the first move in a game to be played over the coming months. The question remains open: will she resign or be removed? Time, and the elections, will tell.