The first day of consultations between Pedro Sánchez and the regional presidents was characterized by polite words and absolute normality, in stark contrast to the usual tone of national PP leaders. However, both the Galician Alfonso Rueda and the Andalusian Juanma Moreno raised deeper issues in their meetings with the president, suggesting a coordinated strategy by the PP. While the Basque president, Imanol Pradales, expressed no issue with the agreement reached with Catalonia, Rueda and Moreno were particularly critical of it, demanding its withdrawal and suggesting that all PP leaders will push for the issue to be discussed in the upcoming Presidents’ Conference scheduled for October. Sánchez had announced that he wanted the conference, to be held in Cantabria, to focus on housing, which he believes is currently the top priority for Spaniards.
However, the PP leaders, while maintaining a respectful tone towards Sánchez, highlighted the issue of financing as a priority to express their rejection of the agreement with Catalonia. Rueda emphasized that bilateral agreements that detract from what should be shared among all regions are not beneficial for Galicia, while Moreno warned that Andalusia would suffer the most from this Catalan deal. The Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, emphasized that the Conference of Presidents is not the appropriate forum for the complex and tense discussion on regional financing, suggesting that the Council of Fiscal and Financial Policy is the suitable space for negotiation. Despite ERC and PSC reaching a “singular financing” agreement involving Catalonia’s exit from the common financing regime, Torres stated that the issue, along with the financing for Catalonia, will be discussed multilaterally in the Council before proposing reforms to Congress.
The PP is not satisfied with the Council and aims to bring the controversy to the Presidents’ Conference. The preparatory commission for this conference, to be convened before the end of September, will face a major point of friction in establishing an agenda that Sánchez had initially set on housing. The PP leaders, who have been calling for the conference for months, aim to use it to fight against the “Catalan quota” and initiate steps to address the outdated regional financing system. Rueda acknowledged the need for dialogue with other regions regarding individual needs but stressed the importance of unified discussions to achieve a fair financing model. The regulation of the Presidents’ Conference allows for the President to set the agenda with the consent of ten autonomous communities or cities, a number that the PP holds. This potential clash over the agenda threatens to escalate tensions between the Government and the constitutional body.
The issue that hits closest to home is often the most concerning. The challenge for the Government lies in balancing the priorities of the presidency with the demands of the regional leaders, particularly on topics like financing. The regulations of the Presidents’ Conference emphasize the need for consensus in setting the agenda, raising questions about how the upcoming conference will unfold given the differing perspectives and interests of the participating parties. The clash between the Government’s planned agenda and the PP’s focus on financing issues creates a potential political storm in the lead up to the conference. It remains to be seen how Sánchez will navigate these tensions and whether a consensus can be reached on the agenda and key issues to be addressed at the upcoming meeting of presidents.
