Just as the PSOE (Socialist) party were sharing out regional departments in the biggest political coupe in 25 years in the Murcia region, three dissident members of the party Ciudadanos, have handed power back to the ruling Partido Popular.
In an amazing U-turn three members of the Ciudadanos (CiU) have reneged on their agreement to vote for a “censure” (no confidence) vote next Wednesday with the PSOE, which would have brought an end to 25 years of political rule by the Partido Popular.
Political pundits point to the “gift” of three regional government departments to the three CiU dissident members by regional President Miras for their sudden change of heart.
The National Executive of the CiU has called a meeting on Monday to discuss this “break with the party line in Murcia” by the three regional councillors.
Earlier this week the PSOE announced a “censure motion” on grounds of corruption and the fact that members of the PP had accessed the Covid-19 vaccination programme “out of turn.” Ciudadanos pledged their votes and the three (now) dissident members of the party signed the motion. If this motion had prospered it would have brought down the Partido Popular regional government in Murcia.
Today, Friday, President of the regional government, Fernando Lopez Mira, (PP) held a press conference with his Vice President Isabel Franco (CiU) at his side to announce that the censure motion would fail due to the three CiU party members, including Franco, pledging to vote against it.
He also announced that Franco would remain as Vice President and that she, and the other two CiU, members who have pledged to change their vote, would each have responsibility for a department in the regional government.
It seems reports of the demise of 25 years of PP rule in the Murcia region were greatly exaggerated.
