Podcast Summary: Hoy por Hoy – Las 8 de Hoy por Hoy | El 60% de los españoles cree que Sánchez debería convocar elecciones, aunque la mayoría piensa que aguantará

Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Àngels Barceló (& team, SER Podcast)
Timestamps: Marked as (MM:SS)

Overview

This episode offers a comprehensive analysis of Spain's turbulent political landscape, focusing on Pedro Sánchez's government, recent polling data, and the growing crisis of confidence. Major themes include election prospects, ratings of key political leaders, corruption scandals, party dynamics, the ongoing public health debate, and significant national and international news. The conversation is framed within a tone of analytical urgency and realism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Election Uncertainty and Public Opinion

• Main Finding: A new poll shows 60% of Spaniards think Sánchez should call early elections, even though most believe he'll "aguantar" and complete the term. (00:12–01:10)
  • Notably, among right-wing voters (PP and Vox), this figure jumps to 90%. The left leans toward finishing the legislature.
  • The most likely scenario for 70% of respondents is that the government stays on.
• Quote:
  • "Sin mayoría, sin presupuestos y con los casos de corrupción acechando, Pedro Sánchez ha decidido aguantar. La gran mayoría de españoles cree que es lo que va a acabar haciendo, aguantar, aunque el 60 % considera que el presidente tendría que adelantar las elecciones." – Main Reporter (00:12)

2. Party & Leader Ratings: Widespread Dissatisfaction

• Poll Details:
  • All major party leaders are rated below 3.5/10.
  • Sánchez is the highest-rated leader at 3.34, closely followed by Abascal; Feijóo lags behind even Ayuso within PP’s base. (01:10–02:30)
  • Isabel Díaz Ayuso notably outshines Feijóo in PP voter evaluations, scoring 7.9/10 and leading in all measured attributes.
• Quote:
  • "Ayuso es la dirigente del PP mejor valorada por el electorado popular [...] recibe un 7,9 de nota media." – Guillermo Lerma (01:40)

3. Corruption Scandals Impacting Voting Patterns

• Paco Salazar & Mismanagement:
  • Scandals, especially involving Paco Salazar, hurt PSOE, particularly among female voters.
  • Ongoing efforts within PSOE to address internal mishandling and restore trust. (03:00–05:10)
  • The “caso Salazar” is discussed as both a governance and reputational crisis.
• PP Accusations:
  • PP accuses the PSOE government of covering up misconduct; focuses on bringing Salazar to testify — suggesting deeper complicity. (08:33–08:49)
• Quote:
  • "No se ha actuado o no se ha avanzado con la celeridad que desde luego era más que necesaria. Pedimos disculpas por ello y desde luego yo hoy lo vuelvo a hacer." – Irene Montero on the PSOE response (08:23)

4. Madrid’s Healthcare Controversies

• Transparency Issues:
  • Community of Madrid (Ayuso’s government) faces allegations for lack of transparency over hospital audits and meetings with private healthcare companies. (03:23–04:18)
  • There’s rising emphasis on the “caso Torrejón” and issues of public vs. private healthcare management.
• Residency Scandal:
  • Legal proceedings over deaths in elderly residences during the pandemic — “protocolos de la vergüenza” — continue, with demands for full accountability.
• Quote:
  • "Queremos que sean valientes, que tiren de la manta, que señalen [...] a los que estaban allí arriba permitiendo esa atrocidad, esa masacre de personas." – María Jesús Valero, Asociación 7291 Verdad y Justicia (04:42)

5. Operation Kitchen & Cover-up Allegations

• New developments in the Operation Kitchen scandal: accusations that the National Court withheld crucial police audios tying María Dolores de Cospedal (ex–PP secretary general) to the plot.
  • PSOE demands reopening the case, citing deliberate judicial obfuscation. (06:01–07:41)
• Quote:
  • "La acusación popular del PSOE ha hallado de forma casual el mes pasado este informe ignorado por la Audiencia más de dos años. Sostiene [...] que ha sido ocultado deliberadamente para proteger a Cospedal y a su partido." – Miguel Ángel Campos (07:17)

6. Precarious Parliamentary Situation

• Government is starting the year without a budget and faces an unfavorable final session in Congress (05:10–06:01).
• PSOE is struggling to maintain support amongst coalition partners, and expects further defeats (e.g., stability path voting).
• Focus shifts to defending social policy and public healthcare, seeking to contrast with PP's privatization image—a strategy intensified amid the case Torrejón scandal. (09:14–10:18)

7. Regional Dynamics

• In Aragón, President Jorge Azcón (PP) faces the possibility of snap elections if he can’t secure a budget deal, with Vox pushing hard for anti-immigration and anti-climate measures as negotiating chips. (10:18–11:37)
• With the Extremadura campaign ongoing, alliances and corruption accountability are center stage.
• Quote:
  • "En VOX buscan presionar al PP de cara una reunión que será determinante para decidir si Aragón va también a elecciones porque el popular Jorge Azcón ya ha anunciado que seguirá los pasos de su compañera María Guardiola si no hay presupuestos." – Julia Molina (11:02)

8. International Segment

• US and Europe:
  • Donald Trump criticizes the EU, encourages ultranationalist allies in Europe, and warns of Europe becoming an unreliable partner due to a weak military. (11:44–13:04)
  • European leaders, especially Council President António Costa, publicly rebuke Trump’s interference.
  • Ursula von der Leyen initially stays silent; António Costa: "Tenemos que protegernos de los aliados que hoy nos desafían. No podemos aceptar esta amenaza de interferencia." (12:29)
• Migration Policy:
  • EU interior ministers decide to toughen asylum relocation quotas and consider third-country migrant centers—Spain, Portugal, France object citing international law. (13:20–13:52)
• Syrian Anniversary:
  • One year after Assad’s fall, massive public celebrations in Damascus, but ongoing fear among minorities. (14:01–15:07)
  • Quote:
    • "Una celebración sin precedentes en Siria. Aseguran las autoridades que un año después de tomar el poder y derrocar al dictador han recibido este masivo espaldarazo." – Nicolás Castellano (14:12)

9. Domestic Labor Strife

• Doctors' Strike:
  • Nationwide doctors’ strike in protest of the proposed regulations, particularly limits on private practice and working hours.
  • Calls for the recognition of unique responsibilities and training of medical professionals. (15:08–15:50)
  • Quote:
    • "Es la única profesión que para poder ejercerla con plena responsabilidad tenemos que estudiar 11 años. [...] No queda clara la clasificación, queda clara la jornada laboral." – Tomás Cobo, presidente de la Organización Médica Colegial (15:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Disenchantment:
  • "La principal conclusión es que ninguno convence a la ciudadanía. Todos quedan por debajo del 3,5 de nota." – Guillermo Lerma (01:20)
• On PSOE’s Internal Crisis:
  • "No se ha actuado o no se ha avanzado con la celeridad que desde luego era más que necesaria. Pedimos disculpas por ello." – PSOE spokesperson, via Irene Montero (08:23)
• On Judicial Opaqueness in Operation Kitchen:
  • "Era solo fragmentos descontextualizados y de desconocida procedencia. Lo que no se sabía es que para entonces la policía había incorporado al juzgado los audios completos." – Miguel Ángel Campos (06:10)
• On Trump’s European Meddling:
  • “Tenemos que protegernos de los aliados que hoy nos desafían. No podemos aceptar esta amenaza de interferencia.” – Antonio Costa, Council President, via Irene Montero (12:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Election poll analysis and party ratings: 00:12–02:32
• Madrid regional scandals & healthcare audit issues: 03:13–04:18
• Pandemic residency case in Madrid courts: 04:19–05:10
• Operation Kitchen, Cospedal audios: 06:01–07:41
• Senate’s Salazar commission, government’s "last" Congress session: 08:23–09:14
• Extremeño and Aragonese election tension, Vox-PP negotiations: 10:18–11:37
• Trump, EU politics, and migration policy crunch: 11:44–13:52
• Syrian post-Assad anniversary: 14:01–15:07
• Doctors’ strike and labor conditions: 15:08–15:50

Conclusion

This episode of "Hoy por Hoy" captures a moment of profound political instability and social unrest in Spain, reflecting disillusionment with leaders, the disruptive effect of corruption scandals, contentious battles over healthcare, and strategic maneuvering at both national and regional levels. The tone remains urgent but fair, aiming to inform listeners with clarity about the pragmatic realities and ethical questions confronting Spanish society.