The PSOE-A candidate for the Presidency of the Junta, María Jesús Montero, has presented this Saturday the socialist candidates who will run in the Andalusian elections on May 17, in an event conceived as a staging of a future government alternative to that of Juanma Moreno.
The also vice president of the Government has taken advantage of the event to project an image of teamwork, internal cohesion, and management capacity in full pre-campaign, with the objective of consolidating the PSOE as the main option for change in Andalusia.
An Executive "Prepared from Day One"
During her speech, Montero defended that the socialist candidacies represent a proposal prepared to govern “from day one” and capable of opening a new political stage in the community.
The socialist leader seeks to convey that the PSOE is not only competing to improve results, but to return to the San Telmo Palace after several legislatures in opposition. The presentation of candidates is also interpreted as an attempt to partially nationalize the campaign through Montero's political weight in the central government.
Healthcare, public services and the PP's wear and tear
The PSOE wants to focus the campaign on the management of public healthcare, dependency, housing, and the cost of living, areas where it considers there is wear and tear of the Andalusian Executive.
Montero insists that Juanma Moreno has exhausted his political cycle and tries to confront the moderate image of the president with the structural problems of Andalusia. Saturday's event reinforces this strategy: against an institutionally established PP, the socialists seek to present themselves as an organized alternative.
Countdown to 17-M
One month before the polls, Montero's candidacy needs to mobilize the progressive electorate and rebuild space against the PP, Vox, and the left to her left.
The presentation of the list leaders and the socialist team thus marks the beginning of a more intense phase of the campaign, where the PSOE will try to demonstrate that it can still dispute regional power in a key community for national politics.