The Barcelona April Fair has been without a PP tent for seven years. The tent has been recovered in 2024, on the eve of the Catalan elections on May 12, where the Popular Party hopes to quadruple its 2021 result (which was the worst in its history: three seats). Never before have Catalan regional elections coincided with an absolute majority of the PP in Andalusia. With this introduction, the President of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno, arrives in Reus (Tarragona) on Tuesday to participate in the final stretch of the campaign. A journey that will continue on Wednesday and will take him through the four Catalan provinces. In parallel, the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, participated in a rally in Barcelona on Monday and will return on Thursday for the final push. Both territorial barons represent the opposite ends of the PP’s ideological spectrum – Moreno embodies a more moderate version, while Ayuso represents the harder line. Both are visiting Catalonia at a time when Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s party is looking to broaden its electoral base in the region.
The PP is aiming to capitalize on the PSC’s votes against the amnesty law and dissatisfaction with concessions to independence parties. This is why calls to concentrate the “constitutionalist” vote around the popular candidate, Alejandro Fernández, are being repeated. The PP sees Moreno as a symbol of the transfer of socialist voters to the party, with nearly 16% of PSOE voters in the 2018 Andalusian elections switching to the PP in 2022. The presence of Andalusians living in Catalonia is also highlighted as a significant factor in the campaign, given that Catalonia is home to the largest number of Andalusians outside Andalusia. Moreno is scheduled to meet with various Andalusian associations in Lleida, Barcelona, Girona, and Tarragona.
The PP praises Moreno for representing “moderation and dialogue” at a time when such qualities are seen as lacking in politics. This is especially significant given the recent nationalization of the campaign message, which has intensified the competition between the socialists and the populares. Members of the executive note that Moreno and Ayuso preside over the two most populous autonomous communities governed by the PP, reflecting the party’s commitment to reaching out to voters across the country. Both leaders also participated in campaign events in Galicia and the Basque Country, with mixed results in terms of electoral outcomes.
The PP’s main focus is now on surpassing the far-right Vox party, which won 11 seats in the 2021 Catalan elections, eight more than the PP. Génova is confident of overtaking Vox in the upcoming elections, as indicated by current polls. While Moreno is expected to attract votes from the PSC, Ayuso’s presence is seen as potentially affecting Vox voters. Despite the growth of the PP, the far-right party is maintaining its space, largely due to the decline of Ciudadanos. Ayuso visited Barcelona on Monday to meet with members of the restaurant sector and deliver a speech critical of the PSC and the government. She will return to Catalonia on Thursday for further campaign activities.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal sent a letter to Feijóo on Monday demanding coordinated action against Sánchez. The PP has declined to respond to the letter, but they have stated their intention to broaden their base across the political spectrum. Moreno and Ayuso are both committed to this goal, as they continue their campaign efforts in Catalonia.
