Spain's Socialist Party under Sánchez faces credibility crisis

Spanish commentators argue that the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) has lost its historical credibility. They cite the party’s shift from the centrist legacy of Felipe González and José Zapatero toward a populist direction under Pedro Sánchez, describing a “devastated institutional space” and a loss of leadership for left‑leaning voters. The criticism also highlights ongoing legal proceedings involving former party figures, warning that the party’s diminished ethical standards could provoke broader civil unrest if the current trajectory continues.