On Monday, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the Popular Party (PP), along with several regional presidents from his party, agreed on the need to ignore Vox. This discussion came ten days after Vox made its move to disrupt five regional governments, as reported by popular party sources to Europa Press.
Feijóo and his regional leaders shared this perspective during a casual lunch at a restaurant in Madrid, following a meeting of the PP’s National Executive Committee—the party’s highest decision-making body between congresses. The session was convened to assess the current political situation.
In his address to party members, Feijóo criticized Vox for its erratic behavior this year, stating that the party has veered off-course by opposing the opposition and indirectly supporting the Government. The breakdown of coalitions with Vox became a main topic during lunch, which saw almost all regional leaders in attendance, excluding Juanma Moreno from Andalusia, Carlos Mazón from Valencia, and María José Sáenz de Buruaga from Cantabria. The party’s secretary-general, Cuca Gamarra, and Elías Bendodo, the deputy secretary for regional and local coordination, also participated.
According to PP sources, the regional leaders concurred that it’s best to disregard Vox, which they believe has expedited the breakdown of regional alliances due to its recent electoral decline and the emergence of Luis Alvise Pérez’s group, “Se Acabó la Fiesta,” which won three seats and garnered 800,000 votes in the European elections on June 9. An attendee summarized their stance, stating, “We are not going to confront Vox, whose voters we want to engage with,” emphasizing that the PP should subtly reference Vox without naming Santiago Abascal.
The issue of irregular immigration was also discussed during the meal. Participants noted that the government led by Pedro Sánchez seems unwilling to reach an agreement with the PP on reforming the Immigration Law, rejecting any of the PP’s requests. The Congress is set to debate a proposal to reform this law, filed last week by PSOE, Sumar, and Coalición Canaria, which aims to mandate the distribution of minors during crisis situations, as currently observed in the Canary Islands.
After an exchange over the weekend between Minister Ángel Víctor Torres and PP spokesperson Miguel Tellado, the PP announced it could not support a bill that “is based on imposition and not dialogue.” Some PP leaders believe there’s still a chance for the government to show goodwill, particularly regarding the funding that regions require to care for migrant minors. Manuel Domínguez, the vice president of the Canarian government and the PP president in the islands, expressed hope for an agreement, noting the government’s opportunity to consider their conditions before the congressional session.
During the lunch, Feijóo and the regional presidents also highlighted other pressing issues that Spain faces, such as the housing crisis. They reiterated their commitment to advancing discussions like the recent agreement in Salamanca, aimed at establishing a common university entrance exam from 2025, which was included in the ‘Cordoba Declaration’ signed by Feijóo and the regional leaders last March.
Despite a court summon for Pedro Sánchez to testify as a witness on July 30 regarding an investigation involving his wife, Begoña Gómez, this topic did not dominate the lunch conversation, according to those present.
Cuca Gamarra, the PP’s secretary-general, offered a summary before the meal, wishing all party officials a well-deserved holiday after a busy political season. Feijóo then took the floor, stressing that despite Gamarra’s remarks, Spain is facing challenges that need attention. He urged party members to maintain vigilance for the possibility of early elections.
In his open speech to the media, Feijóo called for a robust political alternative to what he described as the decline, paralysis, complacency, and selfishness under Sánchez’s government. He believes that while the current administration may seem beyond repair, Spain still has viable options and will soon see a new government. “There’s no reason to resign ourselves,” he encouraged his party colleagues.
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