The Popular Party (PP) has rejected the reform of the Immigration Law to make it mandatory to distribute unaccompanied minor migrants who arrive in the Canary Islands to the rest of the autonomous communities, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The decision not to support the bill that will be voted on in Congress on Tuesday was made after exchanges of messages between the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, and PP parliamentary spokesperson Miguel Tellado on Sunday. Despite the proposal being endorsed by the PP in the Canary Islands, the national leadership was reluctant to support it, pressured by other regional presidents of the PP. The PP has ultimately decided not to endorse the legal reform, stating that the government did not accept their conditions.
The decision of the PP comes after the far-right has broken five regional governments with the conservatives for accepting a minimum distribution of minor migrants (347 out of the 3,000 that need relocation in the Canary Islands), a move prompted by the PP leader. The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has taken a firm stance on the issue of unaccompanied minors arrived in the Canary Islands, causing discomfort among some territorial leaders. The move by Feijóo signifies a shift in leadership within the party, after allowing barons to make agreements with the far-right in the past that cost them the opportunity to govern nationally.
Feijóo’s decision to stand firm against the far-right reflects a new kind of leadership within the party, following the party’s electoral victories. The move was a calculated response to a challenge posed by Vox, ensuring a united position within the party against the distribution of minor migrants. The PP remains concerned about the electoral repercussions of the immigration debate, which has led to the rise of the far-right in several European countries. The debate surrounding immigration is seen as a potential trap that poses risks for both the left and right in Spain.
The PP’s decision not to support the distribution of minor migrants in the Canary Islands through the reform of the Immigration Law reflects a shift towards aligning with the demands of the far-right, despite past attempts by some leaders to distance themselves from their discourse. The unwillingness to engage in dialogue and seek agreement with the government on the issue highlights the complexities and challenges of the immigration debate, which has been used as a political weapon by both sides.
Feijóo’s firm stance against the far-right and the distribution of minor migrants in the Canary Islands represents a pivotal moment in the internal dynamics of the PP. By asserting his authority and rallying party support on the issue, Feijóo has signaled a departure from past strategies and a more assertive leadership approach within the party. The decision to confront the far-right on the issue of immigration reflects a calculated response to the challenges posed by extremist movements in the political landscape.
