Feijóo opts for the hard line to deal with Sánchez and Vox in the legislature

The president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has conveyed a clear message with the appointment of the Galician Miguel Tellado as the new spokesperson in the Congress of Deputies: the commitment to delve into the hardest discursive line in this new legislature. And far from leaving any doubt, the subsequent election of the profiles of Rafael Hernando, Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo and Sergio Sayas publicly conveys that desire to fight the battle in the chamber. All three will be deputy spokespersons. Next week, when the plenary sessions of Congress begin to run regularly, they will be at the disposal of the party when they are called up for any intervention that requires covering fire at Tellado.

Faced with the moderate axis marked upon his arrival to the national leadership of the PP, in April of last year, Feijóo sees a change of tone justified due to several factors. But essentially two. The first is the drift – which they appreciate in Genoa – of the PSOE, more linked to the independence movement than years agobeing the amnesty or the apparent assumption of the lawfare; of ‘legal war’ or persecution. Regarding the agreement with Junts, not even the bill for this ‘forgetfulness’ contains any allusion, and in his last interview on TVE, when asked about it, the President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, he avoided mentioning it, although he did assume that “State institutions have been instrumentalized to persecute political rivals.” This in reference to the Operation Kitchen.

The choice of political profiles of Sánchez for the new Government also has a lot to do with this appointment made by Feijóo after the reform of the popular organization chart; for which he has waited until he meets Moncloa’s. Leaving aside a management approach constituted as a ‘shadow government’ and with it already within Congress, the Galician requires people capable of making notable confrontations that have internal repercussions to seal, but above all that they do so in the media. Debate after debate, control after control. Although at first he was betting on Borja Semper, the Gipuzkoan remains in charge of Culture and national spokesperson. And it is not ruled out that there is a drag effect in the speech that ends up influencing him if his statements begin to clash.

The PP takes for granted the daily headlines with profiles like Tellado at the head of the Congress spokesperson.”

Tellado is firmly Feijóo what Patxi Lopez or the new Minister of Transport Óscar Puente for Sánchez. That’s how they consider it within the party. With Feijóo already located in Congress, an intermediate profile like that of Cuca Gamarra, who “has improved over time.” “He will show serenity when he plays,” admit PP sources. On Friday, López described Tellado as “an insult with legs.” The PP welcomes these adjectives with derision, mentioning that the former president It has been guided by those formulas until today to stand out.

The second factor has to do with the electoral race and its main competitor Vox. The balance resulting from the polls gives greater respite to the PP, because by dropping below fifty seats the strength of Santiago Abascal It has almost lost its parliamentary independence in terms of confrontation with the Government. Nor can it alone promote motions of censure [en cuatro años ha hecho dos], nor present unconstitutionality appeals before the Constitutional Court. Vox only has minor actions left such as filing complaints, mobilizing in the streets and agitating its speech to the extreme to stand out in minutes of broadcast on television, on social networks or in the press. With the election of Tellado, Álvarez de Toledo, Hernando or Sayas, the PP believes that “the headlines are guaranteed.”

A framework of opportunity opens up for the PP to wear down Vox even more, but it must do so by maintaining some caution. On the one hand, trying do not assume the entire speech of the party, which can end up being harmful as has happened to other popular European counterparts. On the other hand, maintaining a certain distance and without direct attacks on Abascal and his people. Only focusing on the Executive and its management. Because, as the ultra-conservative leader already warned in Sánchez’s first investiture session, it will not be difficult for Vox to break with the PP in the regional governments. And losing a second line of resistance against the central government is crucial to remaining competitive.

“Vox values ​​the PP appointments in Congress and the apparent intention to toughen the tone as a ‘smokescreen’ in the face of inaction.”

Abascal’s words came from the PP’s refusal to block the amnesty in the Senate, and to ask him to support his proposal to illegalize ERC and Junts in the chamber. Something that did not happen, because it is argued that this can only be done by a judge with the Law of Parties in hand. In the popular group they downplay any possibility of breaking up the autonomous collaboration in any case, because they know that this would leave them ostracized and would upset conservative voters in the face of a new election. Feijóo’s PP, despite everything, is still far from adopting a discourse typical of the alternative right to which Isabel Díaz Ayuso has entrusted its future. Although it has no problems bringing together profiles among its ranks. The new deputy secretary of Mobilization and Digital Challenge, Noelia Núñez, is the case. It is known as the ‘Ayuso de Fuenla’.

Asked about this, Vox parliamentary sources do not fear parliamentary cornering. They aim at The Independent that these appointments, “regardless of personal worth”, suppose a “smoke screen” with which to “deceive their voters” if they only limit themselves to “hardening the language.” “In the face of what has all the signs of being a coup d’état, what citizens expect from them is greater firmness in their positions. That it lives up to the serious situation in which we find ourselves,” the party indicates. . Raising one’s voice or “aggravating epithets” is not believed to be helpful if the background lacks firmness. “This is what we have been asking the PP for months.

A second chance for Alejandro Fernández

If the threat of rapprochement with Junts in the negotiation of Feijóo’s investiture distanced the positions between Genoa and the popular baron Alejandro Fernández, the move towards a tougher strategy is a guarantee for him. Popular sources warn that this new horizon marked by Feijóo with the choice of his parliamentary infantry line gives Fernández wings to try to fit into the Galician’s project. The same sources assure that, unlike the summer, he now sees himself more situated within the acronym than a few weeks ago. At this time, relations with Feijóo have been redirected. And his profile, similar to that of Álvarez de Toledo as far as Spanish nationalism is concerned, is a plus in these moments of concessions to the independence movement by the central government.

Even with the Congress of the PP of Catalonia ahead and without a scheduled date, through which the new political direction of the autonomous apparatus will be set, Fernández, willing to present himself, has options to redirect his future within the party. In the summer he was offered to go on the lists for Tarragona, but he rejected it. His place, he said, was in the community. Despite everything, there is notable internal opposition that he will have to deal with. It is possible, however, that an early election in Catalonia could lead to his direct candidacy.