Four days before the elections and in the face of the uncertain map that may emerge on 12-M, the PP highlighted yesterday its readiness to get involved in the governance of Catalonia if the polls grant it decision-making capacity. An implication that, as pointed out by the president of the party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, aims to put an end to the “tripartite” that makes up the PSC, Junts and ERC. “We are the change – he asserted – in the tripartite process”.
He raised these reflections at the Barcelona Tribuna forum colloquium, in which Feijóo acted as Alejandro Fernández’s presenter, and in which both gave complementary speeches. The Catalan candidate, referring to the post-electoral scenario, assured that the PP “will rise to the occasion”, recalling the formation’s “governance vocation”.
Feijóo extended himself in the capacity of opener to convey a few messages, especially the need to break the frame in which it seems that the Catalans are forced to choose between three formations that say they will not agree – the PSC, Junts and ERC -, but which de facto are in power of all the institutions, among which the pro-independence ones are fundamental in the stability of the Government of Pedro Sánchez.
He therefore asked to have enough votes to break with the tripartite idea “in a loop”, to which he links a process of “progressive decline” not only economically but also socially in Catalonia. Feijóo emphasized that the Gordian knot of Catalan politics now lies in Puigdemont’s bid to return to Catalonia, and Sánchez’s bid to stay in Moncloa. In Madrid, and in Geneva, he affirmed. Something not consistent, he said, with the political and financial autonomy that is always demanded.
The PP asked for the vote to have the key, to change frameworks and for “new things to happen”. For this reason, Alejandro Fernández emphasized the intention to fully play the governance card if the results allow it, with the aim of starting a new stage that allows the process to be put to an end. When he was asked in the framework of the colloquium whether this would mean supporting an investiture of Salvador Illa, the candidate explained that this presupposes mutual “trust and seriousness” and the commitment of the Socialists to break all pacts with Junts and CKD. A complex scenario if you take into account the governability of Spain.
The PP’s bet, which is being outlined in the campaign, was expressed more clearly yesterday. The change of “framework” that Feijóo drew would be what would be required to be able to offer an eventual investment agreement. The hypothesis seems difficult, but the popular people, in this final stretch of the campaign with 40% of voters undecided, appeal to the usefulness of the vote. A vote to put an end to the “obligation” of Catalans to choose between issues such as breaking or staying in Spain, Catalan or Spanish, they explained.
The speech of the PP in this campaign is based on the bet to leave behind the process and the parties that promote it with regard to the territorial debate, and also on a link between the last decade and a “progressive economic decline and social of Catalonia”. The president of the PP proposed to develop a “manifesto against resignation” so that Catalonia regains its leadership. A program that, among other issues, advocates a tax reduction as a formula for investments to also return, a slimming of the administration, a change in the educational model and an increase in security and measures against illegal employment .
For Alejandro Fernández, the process has established for a decade populist policies that threaten a serious setback if they are not reversed immediately. In addition to the issues raised by Feijóo, he emphasized that the culture of “no to everything” – at the airport, at tourism, in the fourth belt, at the desalination plants… – threatens to take Catalonia to the “lower Paleolithic”. A liberal recipe with which he advised Catalonia to abandon victimhood and take the reins without looking at the rest and, especially, without constant complaints towards the policies of the Community of Madrid.
The colloquium was organized by the Barcelona Economic Society of Friends of the Country, chaired by Miquel Roca, the AED (Spanish Association of Managers) and La Vanguardia. Javier Godó, count of Godó, editor of La Vanguardia, and the PP chieftain were present. As a colophon of the act, and when asked if it would be possible to have a popular pact like the one with CiU, Alejandro Fernández answered with irony that it would be possible if Carles Puigdemont transformed into Miquel Roca.
Feijóo will continue these few days left of the campaign with an intense agenda in Catalonia. With only three seats at the moment, the PP is trying not only to substantially increase its presence in Parliament, but to have the weight to set policies, as well as to consolidate a project for the general elections.
