The acting president and candidate Pedro Sanchez has quoted a verse from the poet Antonio Machado during his intervention in the Congress of Deputies. But it is not the first time that the socialist refers to this text. He already did it in 2015 to remember Machado’s death, through his X account. “‘Today is always still’. We are left with his work and his commitment to freedom # 76añossinMachado” , he said then.

Although the socialist had already used the phrase on other occasions, in the case of this Wednesday he did so in another very different context: during the explanation of your electoral program in the Congress of Deputies. The candidate has started his turn to speak, which is unlimited, defending the right to demonstrate in the streets and congratulating those who do so peacefully. “I respect the protesters who have exercised their constitutional right peacefully,” she said. He has also dedicated himself to praising democracy and warning about far-right policies: “As happened 100 years ago, there is a contest between the reactionary and progressive options. The reactionary option promises to return to the false and idealized past. It does not offer real solutions,” says Sánchez, recalling policies against migrants, environmentalists, unionists.

Similarly, he has listed eight measures that will be implemented in the next legislature, among which is the free transport for minors, unemployed and young people. Immediately afterwards, she had a few words about the amnesty, a topic that he introduced by quoting the “great Antonio Machado.” “Today is always still and since today is still and dialogue is possible, we are going to bet on it,” she added. The piece cited by Sánchez corresponds to the following text by the poet: Today is always still.

During Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s intervention, the popular leader accused Sánchez of having omitted part of the quote. According to the popular leader, the full quote was Today is always still. And now, now is the time to fulfill the promises we made to each other. Because we didn’t do it yesterday, because tomorrow is too late. Now. Then, Sánchez, in his reply, corrected Feijóo, pointing out that the part that was supposedly missing from the quote was actually an addition by the musician Ismael Serrano, as the artist had explained after hearing Feijóo’s words. “It is part of the presentation I made of the song ‘Now’ in the recording of a live concert (Uncertainty Principle),” Serrano concluded on his Twitter account. This exchange has been one of the most anecdotal moments of Wednesday’s day.