Antoni Bassas' analysis: 'My grandfather went downtown'
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While we're still analyzing this weekend's PSOE and PP meetings, remember that the day after tomorrow, Wednesday, Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to appear in Congress to explain his anti-corruption measures. You'll hear everything but pretty things: no enthusiasm, no new impetus, no hope. "I am the captain and the captain does not abandon" rang in TitanicSánchez has the face of a loser. Tough, but a loser, thinner and suffering because the people he trusted have led him into a huge crisis. The only thing holding him up is that the parties that voted for him in the investiture have not withdrawn their support. And yet another problem for SánchezHe has the deep state against him. Who knows what they'll get out of him, whether it's true or not, because we've seen that dirty trick before. Remember what Aznar said in the PP Congress: "If you make deals with criminals, don't be surprised if you end up in prison." The allusion to Sánchez couldn't be clearer.
And Feijóo has put on the face of a winner. It was a pre-victory congress, not so much due to his own merits or the unity within the party, but rather due to Sánchez's mistakes, reinforced by the daily trumpets proclaiming that, because of him, Spain is doomed.
Feijóo has had the photo he wanted (or that the party needed) a certain unity and made a speech of have free hands to make deals with everyone (except with Bildu): with Vox or Juntos. Feijóo says the PP should be able to make a pact with Vox because its voters deserve respect. If respect is the criterion, don't the other parties deserve it? Aside from the fact that their xenophobic, sexist, or Catalanophobic ideas not only don't deserve any respect, but must be politically opposed. And there is a third possible pact for the PP, which is not being discussed, but which would be the dream of many people in the PP, the PSOE, and the system in general, like Felipe González: a pact with the PSOE, a grand coalition.
It's curious that the official version is that Feijóo has positioned himself in the center at the same Congress where he talks about reaching an agreement with Vox. Aside from the fact that, these days, considering Ayuso or Aznar to be centrist is a bad joke.
In short, my grandfather went to the center, which is the journey the PP has been making for decades.
Good morning.