Former Prime Minister Felipe González said the two clearest options for current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez are to resign or call a snap election [1].
The statement represents a significant internal challenge for the Spanish government, as a former party leader is now publicly questioning the viability of the current administration's leadership.
González said Tuesday, June 23, 2026 [2], during an event in Toledo where he appeared alongside regional president Emiliano García-Page [1]. He linked the need for political responsibility to the recent convictions of two individuals: minister José Luis Ábalos and Koldo García [1].
According to González, the government must answer to society regarding these legal failures [1]. He said, "Las dos opciones más claras son dimitir o convocar elecciones," which translates to "The two clearest options are to resign or call elections" [1].
The call for a snap election or a change in leadership follows the judicial outcomes involving the two convicted figures [1]. González said that the political weight of these convictions creates a situation where the current leadership can no longer avoid accountability.
While the administration has not yet responded to the specific demand for a resignation, the public nature of the critique from a former head of government increases the pressure on Sánchez to address the corruption scandals. The event in Toledo served as the platform for González to say that the government's current path is unsustainable given the legal findings [1].
“The two clearest options are to resign or call elections”
This development signals a deepening rift within the Spanish socialist tradition, as Felipe González—a towering figure in the party's history—is effectively withdrawing his implicit support for Pedro Sánchez. By framing the issue around the convictions of Ábalos and García, González is arguing that legal guilt for high-ranking officials must translate into political consequences for the head of government to maintain institutional legitimacy.
