The celebration on Tuesday of the second anniversary of Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s arrival as president of the PP has been somewhat lackluster. Most of the regional leaders excused their absence from the National Executive Board meeting due to scheduling conflicts, and only three out of eleven autonomous community presidents, including Alfonso Rueda, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, showed up to support Feijóo on his second birthday. Feijóo humorously pointed out that two years after taking the helm of the PP, the ultimate goal has not been achieved. Despite the low turnout, Feijóo had important messages prepared for the party internally, following the impact of the alleged tax fraud case involving Ayuso’s partner and ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle starting with the Basque campaign.
Feijóo urged the PP to focus on the upcoming Basque, Catalan, and European elections in the next three months. He emphasized the importance of not falling for provocations and defending their own against the “dirt” spread by the adversary. While not explicitly mentioning Ayuso or her chief of staff, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, who has been embroiled in controversy, Feijóo’s call to avoid provocations seemed like a warning. In a highly charged political atmosphere, Feijóo called on the PP to close ranks internally and defend each other against attacks from the opposition. He stressed the need to avoid being equated or divided by their opponents.
Feijóo defended the PP’s strategy of highlighting issues like the proposed amnesty law and the Koldo case, accusing the socialists of attacking the PP to divert attention. He emphasized the party’s role in reminding Spaniards of the government’s alleged indignity and committed to continuing their strategy of criticism. Feijóo also confirmed that the party would hold street protests in the future as part of their strategy. As the party gears up for the upcoming electoral cycle, Feijóo set the goal of winning the European elections as their top priority.
Feijóo also addressed the proposal by the President of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, regarding a referendum on independence for Catalonia. He criticized Prime Minister Sánchez for allowing such proposals and urged him to break ties with his allies. Despite the low turnout of the regional leaders at the anniversary celebration, those present showed differing views on historical memory issues. While President of Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, supported a new law that does not mention the Franco dictatorship, President of Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, rejected the idea of introducing a similar concordance law in his region.
Overall, Feijóo’s anniversary celebration highlighted internal party challenges, the need to stay united against attacks, and the upcoming electoral cycle’s focus. Despite the absence of some regional leaders, Feijóo’s messages resonated with the party’s commitment to facing the upcoming challenges and working towards their electoral goals. The event also showcased the differing perspectives within the party on historical memory issues, indicating ongoing discussions on how to approach these sensitive topics.
