The leader of the Spanish People’s Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, delivered his speech in the Chamber today to ask MPs to give him the confidence he needs to become Prime Minister. In tomorrow’s vote, Feijóo needs the approval of a simple majority of 176 parliamentarians and the PP, the largest party, holds 137 seats in the House of Representatives. But even with the support of the 33 far-right Vox MPs and two small conservative parties representing Navarre and the Canary Islands, Feijóo would still be four votes short.
The Catalan question
“I have the votes I need to become prime minister within reach,” Feijóo said to laughter from some of his left-wing rivals, “but I am not prepared to accept the price I have to pay for it,” he referred to the requests of the Catalan Independents. Feijóo said if he becomes prime minister he will push for a new law punishing “unconstitutional breach of trust” that would apparently replace a sedition law abolished last year to help Catalan separatists in legal trouble.
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He also mocked the outgoing socialist prime minister’s reasoning Pedro Sanchez that his legal reforms, which included the pardon of nine leaders of the Catalan separatist movement, led to a reduction in tensions in Barcelona. “It is true that there are fewer protests, but why should they get up from their seats when you give them everything they ask for?” Feijóo said to applause from his party.
The Feijóo program
After attacking Sánchez, Feijóo explained the main points of his government plan, which include tax cuts and a commitment to make kindergarten free for children up to three years old. He thanked Vox for its support but also made a number of allusions to center-right politics, from adapting to climate change to combating gender-based violence, issues on which he differs from Vox.
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What happens if Feijóo fails?
If Feijóo fails to form a government, that would automatically trigger a two-month period during which Sánchez could attempt to form a new government. If he also fails, parliament will be dissolved on November 27th and new elections will be scheduled for January 14th.
Sánchez’s slap
A possible grand coalition is certainly becoming increasingly unlikely. There was an argument in the courtroom today and the spark was the election Sánchez should not intervene. In his place, the socialist deputy Óscar Puente spoke, who attacked Feijóo head-on with very harsh tones. At this point, all the popular deputies stood up and shouted at Sánchez, calling him a “coward” in unison. Then Feijóo took the floor and also strongly reprimanded the prime minister: “During the election campaign he asked me for six debates, but today he didn’t want to hold the second? The truth is that the PSOE has definitely won today with these words and has lost its dignity in history.”
Even the leader of Sumar, Yolanda Diaz, who followed in Sánchez’s footsteps, then decided not to intervene in the debate about trust in Feijòo. A decision that underlines the parliamentary strategy of the government and the progressive alliance to also formally delegitimize the PP leader’s attempt to form an executive.
She intervened on Diaz’s behalf Martha Lois, Sumar’s group leader in the House of Representatives. “Today,” he said, “we are at the end of a sad journey full of lies, a journey to nowhere. The PP is just wasting our time.”