Bishops Support Argüello's Proposal for Early Elections Following 'Cerdán Case'

The Secretary General and spokesperson of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), Francisco César García Magán, has defended the call by the President of the CEE, Luis Argüello, for early general elections following the latest corruption case involving the PSOE's former organisational secretary, Santos Cerdán, as 'a way out of institutional deadlock', warning that 'corruption is a cancer of democracy'.

'Clearly, the President (of the CEE) has proposed a way out of the institutional deadlock, suggesting that the citizens should speak. I believe that allowing the citizens to speak is a fundamental principle of democracy,' García Magán emphasised this Friday, during the press conference following the 270th meeting of the CEE's Permanent Commission.

Although he noted that there is no official position from the Episcopal Conference and that the topic was not discussed during the recent meetings, he supported Argüello's recent statements calling for early elections.

'The Spanish Constitution provides various instruments for the exercise of sound democratic politics, such as the motion of censure and the vote of confidence, but the main element in a democracy is that the citizens have a voice. Therefore, I believe that the President, by elevating the discussion, has highlighted something as important as prioritising the common good and what benefits Spain and Spanish society over party interests, which can often be short-sighted,' he insisted.

Moreover, he warned in general terms that 'corruption is one of the cancers of democracy', regardless of its 'colour', as it 'undermines' its foundations and 'erodes credibility'. He also cautioned that it is 'a dangerously open door to authoritarian situations'.

Therefore, he encouraged looking beyond 'merely electoral party interests', highlighting that 'there lies the not easy, but balanced, function that the constitution envisages for the crown, for the head of state'.