Marisol Garmendia, the current socialist spokesman in the city council, assures that she will present herself and compete to become San Sebastián’s first female mayor. José Ignacio Asensio and Iñaki Arriola defend the primary process and the right of every socialist to stand up.
The former mayor of San Sebastián and the current socialist deputy in Congress, Odon Elorzahas announced that it intention to present to the internal primaries that the PSE-EE will hold in October to party candidate for mayor of the capital of Gipuzkoa for the municipal elections of May 2023.
In a letter to the secretary general of the San Sebastián groups and to the militants, Elorza announced his decision to run for mayor again, a post he held for 20 years.
“I am concerned that San Sebastián is moving between the complacency of some and indecision in the face of existing problems. The lack of definition of important issues hides a lack of leadership. And I believe that we must return the illusion to the people of San Sebastian with a project that gives a new impulse to the city council so that the municipality can meet the challenges ahead,” he emphasizes in the letter.
He also added that “San Sebastián needs leadership and a clear view of the city to address without further delay the challenges of public housing for young people and families, social cohesion in neighborhoods, sustainability and climate emergency policies, the naturalization of the city, cultural innovation and urban identity, non-improvised mobility, regulation of the tourism tide from a comprehensive response and planning of land policy against particular interests, as well as a defense of the quality of public services offered by governments”.
If he formalizes his candidacy, the ex-regidor from San Sebastian will contest it with Marisol Garmendia, who is the current spokesperson for the PSE-EE in the municipal council, second deputy mayor in the coalition municipality led by the PNV and alderman for Economic Promotion and Employment.
Odón Elorza, a 67-year-old from San Sebastián with a law degree, was mayor of San Sebastián for five terms (1991 to 2011), the first two thanks to various government agreements and the other three as head of the most voted party list .
In 2011, he lost the elections, which EH Bildu won with Juan Karlos Izagirre as leader, who was defeated in the 2015 elections by the PNV, which to this day rules the city council of San Sebastian with Eneko Goia as mayor and in coalition with the socialists…
Since he was defeated and left the consistory in 2011, Odón Elorza has been a Congressional deputy for Gipuzkoa.
Reactions to the decision
Marisol Garmendiathe current number one socialist in the city council of San Sebastián and the deputy mayor, who has also confirmed that he will present his candidacy for mayor, has assured that Elorza’s decision has not surprised him, “lately there have been many indications, since, as a spectator, he attended a plenary session on housing policy”.
Garmendia has made sure that he respects every colleague’s right to appear, although he believes that “it is time to renew the leadership” of the PSE-EE in San Sebastian. “I think it’s time for a woman, with enthusiasm, enthusiasm, ambition and connection to the bourgeoisie, to lead the socialists of San Sebastian and become the city’s first female mayor. That is my goal and I will to fight.” he says. “I don’t do vintage politics, everyone has their place and their time and now it’s my turn,” he emphasized.
For his part, the general secretary of the PSE-EE Jose Ignacio Asensio he has defended the right of any militant to present the candidacy “we have an absolutely open and democratic electoral system that must be respected”.
Asensio has stated that both “Marisol Garmendia, the current deputy mayor who is doing an excellent job, and Elorza, who has been mayor of the city and is a socialist deputy in Madrid, are very experienced candidates, with a lot of weight and a very strong track record in the lot. consolidated”.
The Minister of Territorial Planning, Housing and Transport, Inaki Arriola, has stated that he is “surprised” by the decision of socialist deputy Odón Elorza to run for mayor of San Sebastián in the PSE primaries, although he has emphasized that “it is logically his right”. In his opinion, “if the associate members participate in the electoral congress and they have multiple candidates to choose from, they will choose the best one.”
Primary calendar
The battle for mayor’s candidacy will not be confirmed until the September 14 starts the primary process.
PSE-EE sources have reported that on that day, the National Education Commission will “give the green light to the primaries calendar” and the 19 and 20 of that month before nominations.
From 21 to 27 September is held collection of guarantees accurate to be an applicant and the 28the proclamation of “prospects”.
The October 9 members will vote first round and if no absolute majority support is given, there will be second round at 16 of the same month, the date on which at the latest the proclamation of the socialist candidate who will attend the municipal elections in May will take place.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
