Ayuso smiles (but sharpens the knives)

The pro-PP press—that is, almost all of it in Spain—has been working at full speed for days, trying to convey the idea that the upcoming party congress will be a lifeline for the party. Although the decision to hold it was made behind the backs of the PP's supporters, men territorial, the usual notaries immediately assured that the regional leaders were ecstatic with joy over the decision. Today The reason puts a good dose of soap on the front page: "Feijóo is projected in Moncloa with the slogan "I will do what I promise." And what he promises, according to the subtitle, is a "deep cleansing of Sanchismo." There is no protein in this news, only the intimate desire to put Moncloa and Feijóo in the same sentence.

But is everything really so rosy in this PP Shanadú? The cover ofThe World suggests that there are loopholes in this permanent Norit ad, whose subtitle is a quote from Isabel Díaz Ayuso: "A project for Spain must be more than just kicking Sánchez out. It has to inspire excitement." It's well known that Feijóo's ability to generate enthusiasm is similar to that of a rock mussel, so the Madrid president is attacking the populist flank, which is where it hurts the most. There's no reason to think that Ayuso will challenge her for leadership... for now. She did so when Casado ran the party aground and back then all the right-wing newspapers treated her simply as president, without specifying that she was president of Madrid. There's less drumming now, but this subtitle suggests, in my opinion, that Feijóo is being given one last chance. And that if she fails, the responsibility will be hers, and so will the buttocks where the sole of Ayuso's shoe will be stamped, asking for passage. I predict a few weeks before the congress with headlines that won't be deadly daggers, but rather small darts.