Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Alejandro Fernández made peace last Wednesday during a meal with other leaders of the PP of Catalonia, leaving behind internal tensions, at least for the time being. The national leader of the PP traveled to Barcelona during Holy Week to publicly endorse the party’s president in Catalonia as a candidate for the May 12 elections. This endorsement came after a “slightly delicate birth,” as Fernández described it at a previous event with the regional leadership, an attempt to showcase unity following two weeks of maximum tension. The configuration of the lists and the healing of wounds ensured that Fernández will be under supervision, with individuals close to the national leadership from Génova being included in the candidacy.
Feijóo and Miguel Tellado took charge at the Génova headquarters in the spring of 2021, resolving pending regional congresses to their liking, except for Catalonia, where Alejandro Fernández refused to step down. Tensions increased as Fernández openly opposed the contacts the national leadership had with Junts following the July 23 elections to gauge their support for an investiture. Feijóo highly values loyalty and planned to replace Fernández before the scheduled Catalan elections for late 2024 or early 2025. However, President Pere Aragonès moved the elections to May 12, resulting in uncertainty regarding Fernández’s confirmation and rival candidates causing internal strife in both Catalonia and Madrid.
Feijóo considered various options for a replacement candidate, including Daniel Sirera, Dolors Montserrat, or Manu Reyes. Ultimately, to avoid internal conflict close to the election, Feijóo approved Fernández as the candidate after meeting privately with him in Madrid. Although Fernández will be supervised by Génova, Dolors Montserrat has been appointed as campaign chief to showcase unity and bring together different viewpoints in offering a project for Catalonia. Montserrat, with a less stringent stance than Fernández, aligns more closely with Feijóo’s approach as a former president of a historic nationality like Galicia.
In addition to appointing Montserrat, Génova has placed several of its own in prominent positions for the May 12 elections, including Mayor Manu Reyes as number two in Barcelona and Santiago Rodríguez, the Secretary of Organization of the PP of Catalonia, as number four. Feijóo faces the Catalan elections following challenging results in the Basque Country and prior to the European elections in June. The outcome in Catalonia is crucial for his national message, with a goal of preventing Pedro Sánchez from strengthening his position by ensuring Salvador Illa of the PSC does not secure a significant majority.
Feijóo urged the members of the PP in Catalonia to activate for the upcoming elections, emphasizing the need to confront separatism and solve issues facing the region. The campaign will target Illa and the Sanchez government for reviving the independence movement and economic challenges under ERC and Junts. The PP aims to rally constitutionalist voters from Ciudadanos, PSC, and Vox. Despite internal and external noise regarding Feijóo and Fernández, the PP anticipates gaining seats on May 12, with Ciudadanos seemingly disappearing from the landscape. The recent turmoil over the candidate selection has been resolved, and the focus now is on presenting a united front for a successful campaign.
