Spanish Socialists enter election campaign leaderless

THE SPANISH Socialist party high command met in emergency session yesterday to confront its biggest crisis for years, after Friday's surprise resignation of Jose Borrell as prime ministerial candidate.

The party's executive committee decided to postpone any action until after next month's European and local elections and tried, fruitlessly, to veto any speculation about who Mr Borrell's successor might be. Mr Borrell said he quit because of a financial scandal surrounding two former colleagues.

The party that ruled Spain for 14 years in four successive governments, but failed to regroup its forces to work effectively in opposition, is in the biggest mess since the former prime minister, Felipe Gonzalez, resigned as leader two years ago.

As the Socialists enter an election campaign leaderless and in turmoil, their aspirations for a prompt return to government dashed, Jose Maria Aznar's ruling conservatives are quietly grinning with glee.

Mr Gonzalez - once regarded as so tainted by corruption as to be unelectable - is emerging from the swirling chaos as the determinant figure in what happens next. What is already clear is that Spain's future socialist leader will be either Mr Gonzalez himself, a prospect that has gained credibility in the past couple of days, or someone picked by him.

The ghastly experience of primaries - when Mr Borrell unexpectedly trounced the official candidate, Joaquin Almunia, just over a year ago - is unlikely to be repeated. For months, Mr Borrell as prime ministerial candidate, and Mr Almunia as general-secretary, operated an uncomfortable double act that convinced no one and caused dismay in the ranks.

Mr Gonzalez never concealed his dislike of Mr Borrell, nor his chagrin that the party machine was so ignominiously outflanked by the rank and file. Worse for Mr Borrell, after an initial rush of grassroots enthusiasm for his plan to revitalise a party grown sclerotic and bereft of new ideas, his popularity sagged.

He proved less good a leader than he thought. He unexpectedly came a poor second in his first parliamentary confrontation with the uncharismatic Mr Aznar. Crucially in a party constructed from competing regional fiefdoms, Mr Borrell failed to forge the alliances necessary to control the party and transform it. His intellectual brilliance and popular attractiveness were worthless against an executive that never stopped undermining him.

Step forward Mr Gonzalez, whose skill in disarming or banishing rivals has contributed to this impasse. Names of potential leaders who enjoy his blessing are emerging: Jose Bono, who runs the central region of Castilla-La Mancha; Mr Almunia, the safe pair of hands; and Rosa Diez, a Basque Socialist who heads the party's list for the European elections on 13 June.

Nato's secretary-general, Javier Solana, would be Mr Gonzalez's ideal choice, despite the fact that he is otherwise engaged. That is another reason party bosses seem content to play a waiting game.