Feijóo rejects a confrontation with Sánchez on TVE: he thus projects a suspicion of political bias on his country’s public television, which entails an accusation of a Trumpist nature (“me against the system”) that is on the rise in this populist era. It can also be interpreted as cowardice: not daring to enter a territory that you suspect is hostile betrays weakness, lack of courage, cowardice as a leader. One of two.
Feijóo does go to the set of El hormiguero, he senses that it will be favorable to him. He enters at a slow pace, with a summer jacket, charcoal gray, white shirt unbuttoned to the third button (hair on chest) to return the ball to Sánchez about what sanchismo is: “lies, manipulation and evil.” And he claims his modulating and centrist role in Spanish politics: “we have given the Socialists the mayor’s office of Barcelona.”
Feijóo wanted to make a difference in this way with a Sánchez who the night before in El hormiguero confessed to seeking votes “under the stones”: “I will not agree with…”, Feijóo said and recounted all the parties to the left of the PSOE without forgetting the nationalists and Bildu.
Pablo Motos questions Alberto Núñez Feijóo about his recent agreements with Vox, and the candidate distances himself from sexist violence, takes the opportunity to ask for more votes for the PP and recalls -again- the gift of Barcelona that the PP has made to the Socialists . And he coined the phrase: “I am not Pedro Sánchez”, that is, “I am not going to agree with Bildu (or with independentistas)”. Feijóo claims that at 61 he can say it loud and clear: “I will not negotiate the rights and freedoms of our Constitution.” Applause.
Sánchez had started several gusts of applause the day before, but Feijóo surpassed him by far. To a good question from Motos (“Will Santiago Abascal be vice president?”), Feijóo explained that “I have decided on a vice president and a minister of Economy, and they are good, but I am not going to tell them.” Applause. Feijóo announced a change in the law so that a teenager cannot undergo an irreversible sex change operation without parental consent. Applause. A minor will not abort without the knowledge of the parents or a judge. Applause. Tax rebates. Applause. Feijóo explained the personal case of the sedation of his father, a dying old man…
Pablo Motos poses a rosary of interesting, difficult, complex questions. The candidate receives them all with serenity. And even with jokes: “like a motorcycle, our economy?” (alluding to Sánchez’s expression, and playing in turn with the presenter’s last name). He refutes the supposed sanchista with some data and concludes like this: “if they elect me, I am not going to lie to them.” Applause (although Motos does not notice that a plastic bag in a supermarket at the price of 12 euro cents is not more expensive than a kilo of oranges, as Feijó has stated, as if nothing had happened…). Applause. Applause. Applause. Pablo Motos conducts a good political interview and Feijóo responds to everything without deviating and reaping applause for almost every response. He transmits security, solvency and less cockiness than Pedro Sánchez: “I let you do your program, I don’t approach you or scold you”, stressed the Galician politician, alluding to Pedro Sáncjez’s physical and verbal attitude the day before. The play has worked for Feijóo.
It has gone well for him, as well as he has entered the set minutes before: “I am happy because my six-year-old son will see this program for the first time, and he will not see it for me or for you, he will see it for the ants.” Skilled. Very skillful.
