The phrases that Borja Sémper inserted in Basque in his speech at the plenary session that debated the proposal to reform the Congress regulations to allow the use of co-official languages ??have become the object of criticism in some sectors of the popular group and middle officials of the party. Criticism from which the consulted barons distance themselves, who share the management’s approaches, but which have revealed a certain discontent with the “erratic strategy” of Feijóo’s team, or at least a lack of understanding of what is being done.
The Basque language used by Sémper is the trigger, but not the cause, or at least not the main objective, although some parliamentarians expressed their disagreement or surprise at Sémper himself.
Asked yesterday on Onda Cero if he feels comfortable in the PP and if he considers that he has enemies,” the popular spokesperson assured that he feels comfortable in Feijóo’s project and that the PP is his home: “I have risked my life to be of the PP. Because I am from the PP they wanted to kill me,” and perhaps that is why the criticism hurts him more.
Many do not criticize the fact that he spoke in Basque, but rather that he did so after saying the day before that the PP “would not do the trick” and that Cuca Gamarra asked to speak at the beginning of the plenary session to demand that the regulations in force be complied with, and having made it clear that they were going to oppose the use of co-official languages.
This is the example given by the sources with whom La Vanguardia has spoken to exemplify the “erratic strategy” of their formation. The deputies knew that Borja Sémper would speak in Basque. They were told at the group meeting prior to the plenary session. They were expressly informed that he would intersperse phrases in Basque. And that’s what he did, the PP leadership and the popular spokesperson himself defend themselves, although they concede that perhaps not all the pertinent explanations were offered.
From Genoa it is emphasized that he pronounced those phrases and immediately translated them into Spanish, to demonstrate that with the current regulations one can speak in any co-official language, if it is translated, and that “to understand each other among Spaniards there is no need for translators.”
The popular leadership defends the way in which the debate was developed, because “we could not allow ourselves to be taken away from a symbol”, that of the language “that the independentists want us to leave them exclusively.” This is what Feijóo did in Galicia, they say, and Galician usage is normalized, without nationalists being able to appropriate it.
This is not the only decision adopted by the party leadership that these sectors do not understand, and they also cite Sunday’s event. In his speech at the national board of directors, on Monday, September 11, to which deputies and senators belong, Feijóo did not talk about calling an event. The next day, José María Aznar called for a civic and institutional mobilization against the amnesty, and Cuca Gamarra was quick to announce a large “open public event” against the pardon measures for the pro-independence supporters of the process, which for the leadership itself. of the PP is redirecting to leave it at a rally, to which it invites whoever wants to go “as in all rallies.” Critical voices within the party are upset because they consider that it seems that it is Aznar who sets the tone and if not Isabel Díaz Ayuso, without Feijóo exercising his leadership and imposing himself. They believe that it is not logical to hold this event on the eve of the investiture of the leader of the PP, because it is recognizing in advance that he is going to fail and that Pedro Sánchez will be president.
They have the same opinion about the comings and goings regarding the dialogue with Junts – keeping Bildu out of the conversations – but backing down when Puigdemont raised his demands when “it was already known what they were” and after receiving harsh criticism from the leader. of the PP of Catalonia, Alejandro Fernández, Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo.
The popular leadership accepts these complaints and defends itself. “We are not going to expel anyone because they say what they think,” they say. “This is not a sect,” and they invite the dissatisfied to present their ideas to the management in a situation “as evil” as the current one. They assure that many prefer Feijóo to go into opposition mode, but the popular leader continues to believe that it is his obligation to appear for the investiture and assert the 172 seats.
The response of the PP leadership is that governments have been formed in their territories, many of them with Vox, and Génova has supported them, although these agreements have taken votes away from Feijóo. And despite this, the PP “grew in the center,” while others wanted “it to be cornered.” There will be time for opposition, they say, but that will be until after the investiture is held, next week.
