Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez rebukes Catholic bishops for urging elections due to legislative deadlock, reigniting tensions over Church’s role in politics
Newsroom (16/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) A public confrontation has erupted between the Spanish government and the country’s Catholic hierarchy after the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) reiterated calls for fresh elections to break a persistent parliamentary deadlock, prompting sharp rebukes from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his ministers.
In an interview published Sunday in the newspaper La Vanguardia, Archbishop Luis Argüello of Valladolid, who leads the CEE, described the current political situation as “even more deadlocked than in July,” highlighting the absence of an approved budget and the inability to advance legislation. Argüello repeated remarks he first made over the summer, suggesting three constitutional mechanisms to resolve the impasse: a vote of confidence, a motion of no confidence, or dissolving parliament to “give the people a voice.”
The archbishop’s comments stem from the inconclusive results of the July 2023 general elections, in which Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) finished second to the conservative Popular Party (PP) but managed to form a fragile coalition government. This minority administration relies on support from a diverse array of regionalist parties, some of which do not align ideologically with the left, creating ongoing challenges in securing parliamentary majorities.
Sánchez responded forcefully during a rally on Sunday evening, rejecting what he characterized as undue interference by the clergy. “The time when bishops interfered in politics ended when democracy began in this country,” the prime minister declared. Addressing Argüello’s proposed options directly, Sánchez proposed a fourth: “Respect the election results, even if you don’t like them.”
He further accused the Church of inconsistency, noting that similar calls for early elections or confidence votes were absent when right-wing governments held power. “It is certainly curious, because when the right wing governs they do not call for early elections, nor for a motion of censure or a motion of confidence; on the contrary, what they want is for the four years mandated by the Constitution for the duration of a legislature to be respected,” Sánchez said. In a pointed personal challenge, he suggested Argüello enter politics himself through far-right channels: “If he wants to run in an election, there’s the far-right association Christian Lawyers, let him run and see what result he gets.”
Sánchez’s criticism was echoed by senior members of his cabinet. Deputy Prime Minister María Jesús Montero, identifying as a member of the “progressive Church,” urged Argüello to abandon a “let him who can do, do” approach. Félix Bolaños García, the minister of the presidency, justice, and relations with the Cortes, referenced his earlier objections, including a summer letter and public statements expressing displeasure at the archbishop’s initial remarks. Bolaños had previously written on X (formerly Twitter) that “the time when bishops intervened in the politics of our country ended with the dictatorship,” while calling for the Episcopal Conference to maintain political neutrality and temper its perceived affinity for the PP and the far-right Vox party. In an open letter, he asked Argüello “to refrain from breaking your neutrality and to act with respect toward democracy and the government.”
Within the Church, reactions were measured. Archbishop Joan Planellas of Tarragona acknowledged the validity of Argüello’s assessment of parliamentary gridlock but cautioned against the hierarchy explicitly advocating for new elections. Citing the Second Vatican Council’s Gaudium et Spes, Planellas emphasized that “the Church cannot identify itself with any specific political option and is not bound to any political system.” He added that while individual Christians may express such views legitimately, prudence is required when speaking on behalf of the Church or its pastors.
Archbishop Argüello defended his position on X, insisting on the Church’s right to speak on moral and social issues. “In the face of respect for life and its dignity, the understanding and support for the family in housing and education, the welcoming of immigrants, service to the poor, religious and conscientious freedom, and respect for the basic rules of the rule of law, I am not neutral,” he wrote.
The official CEE account on X also pushed back against accusations of overreach, arguing that media requests for the Church’s views on current events undermine claims it should remain absent from public discourse. “Being a member of the Church does not prevent one from opining on public life nor from giving interviews,” the account stated.
The exchange comes as Sánchez’s government faces separate pressures, including ongoing corruption investigations and sexual harassment allegations involving party members, which have already prompted resignations among senior officials. The renewed friction with the Catholic leadership underscores lingering debates in Spain over the separation of Church and state, decades after the end of the Franco dictatorship when the Church held significant political influence.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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