Following a major power outage in Spain, Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez faced criticism for not contacting the leader of the opposition, Alberto N煤帽ez Feij贸o, for 28 hours. While S谩nchez spoke with various international leaders including Ursula von der Leyen, Mark Rutte, and even Volodymyr Zelensky, the call with Feij贸o only occurred after the initial reports and only lasted six minutes.
The PP (People's Party) criticized the lack of communication and accused S谩nchez of withholding information. Although a phone call was held between the two, the PP claimed it was mostly already in the public eye and not informative. They suggested S谩nchez is looking for an external cause to avoid responsibility.
European leaders, including Von der Leyen and the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, expressed their support for the Spanish government. Zelensky even offered assistance from Ukrainian energy experts due to their experience dealing with such issues during the war.
While S谩nchez delayed contacting Feij贸o, there were communications between their respective staffs and cabinet members. Calls were made between the chief of staff, and between ministers and parliamentary spokespersons. Regional leaders of the PP reported the calls were mostly for formality.