Alberto Núñez Feijóo, in the center, during the National Executive Committee of the PP, this Monday.ZIPI ARAGON (EFE)
Two weeks before his inauguration, Alberto Núñez Feijóo is already acting as opposition leader. Although he is formally the one who can become government president since parliament will elect him at the end of the month, the PP leader is focused on a political offensive against the possibility that the PSOE could agree an amnesty with the Catalan Independents. . As he admitted to the PP leadership on Monday, he assumes that his party will fail. The strategy for the inauguration of the popular leader is beginning to cause concern in some parts of the PP, as they are not clear about the planned steps until implementation. “The weeks are getting longer and longer,” admits a regional president of the PP, who, like other leaders, also fears that Pedro Sánchez will conclude a unity agreement with the independents shortly before the inauguration of the PP leader.
More information
In his speech this Monday to the National Executive Board of the PP, Feijóo stressed that the date of his inauguration was set by the President of the Congress, the socialist Francina Armengol, which some leaders saw as an attempt to justify the 35 days that they had set by the The King’s Commission will move on to debate. However, it was the PP that pressured Armengol to set the date for the end of September rather than the end of August, the other option that was on the table. The result is a full month for a political operation that quickly proved to be doomed. Although the PP leadership initially hoped for a deal with Junts or the PNV, Feijóo has already thrown in the towel, as he admitted to the PP leadership: “I don’t have much hope, but it’s my obligation.” “I “I want to try it,” he admitted. to himself – and he finds it increasingly difficult to justify his attempt.
This is the view of some popular sectors, where there is concern that the risk of going to an investiture debate when the alternative majority has reached an agreement has not been well calculated. “As we find ourselves with an agreement before Feijóo’s inauguration… Sánchez knows how to handle it,” reflects a popular baron, who realized through the leader’s private words on Monday that the PP “is having very difficult times before his inauguration. ” is impossible.”
Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Cuca Gamarra, this Monday during the meeting of the National Executive Board of the PP in Madrid.ZIPI ARAGON (EFE)
The contacts with Junts via Catalunya, which Feijóo admitted this Tuesday that had already taken place discreetly, also upset the PP internally. Firstly, there was internal noise only in defending the meetings with junts. But after Feijóo disclosed the contacts, it also raised doubts in the party. “There is a danger that those of Junts will come out and give their version, and given the complexity they have…” warns another Baron, who believes that “the blanket strategy is impossible and will only wear out.” On the other hand Other regional presidents of the PP defend the dialogue with Puigdemont’s party, although they recognize “how difficult it is to understand the fine print” of this political decision. “Sit down and talk, yes, although polarization makes people say you shouldn’t have sat down,” says one of the new factions that emerged from May’s elections.
What influences the most is what happens next. So you don’t miss anything, subscribe.
Subscribe to
In some popular circles, it is believed that Feijóo has not been right since the July 23 general election campaign. “Nothing has gone well for us since the last week of the election campaign. Even if it is a mistake, you must be doing something right,” says an adviser to a key PP barony. “Some steps are not understood. At first this slow pace for everything, but then we take a step, like Junts, and in the end we have to explain or correct it … “he complains.
Perhaps aware of his inner doubts, Feijóo conveyed the message to the party’s senior staff behind closed doors this Monday that they should trust him. The leader emphasized that he knew what he was doing and that he was in charge, according to sources present at the meeting. Despite the waves rocking the ship, no one sees any internal movement against the Galician politician in sight. This Tuesday, Feijóo claimed that he won last July’s elections despite not having a sufficient governing majority. “I did not seek this presidency, but I came to occupy it because the presidents asked me to do so due to the crisis in my party. I just answer the surveys. A politician who wins elections is useful. I presented myself five times: I received four absolute majorities and one relative majority,” he defended himself in an interview on Telecinco, in which he said that he was not afraid that no one would challenge him for the leadership.
Despite the growing unrest and the slim chances of success, the popular leader is determined to go to his investiture debate on the 26th and 27th of this month. Sources from his immediate team confirm his strong intention to attend no matter what. “We have an order from the king and the opportunity to give a speech that Pedro Sánchez has to listen to when he sits there,” argue Feijóo’s employees. Management insists that “there was no other alternative” and claims that operations are going well. “We are pumping oil even though we all know it won’t come out,” defends a member of the leadership. Despite the risks, Feijóo has decided to carry on, including in the dual role of government presidential candidate and opposition leader.
Subscribe to continue reading
Read without limits