The PP has finished the congress and the confetti is still flying through the air, but it's the sad echo of a fake euphoria. The speeches have been triumphalist, as they should be, but a review of the press reveals Alberto Núñez Feijóo's Achilles' heel. He tries hard to appear as a strong leader who will rescue Spain from the red and separatist hordes, but the vast majority of headlines—including those in the most friendly press—relate to Vox. It's semiotics first: if what defines you most is your relationship with another, your brand is weak. And it's true that this malaise also affects the PSOE—which can best say for itself that if they fall, the others will follow—but in Feijóo's case, this effect is more painful considering all the factors working in his favor, including a media landscape that backs him up. According to his headlines, his communications advisors have tried to convey the message that he aspires to govern alone. Bad business, because it implicitly admits weakness and dependence. From there, not closing the door to Vox allows Abascal's party to sneak into much of the press: thanks for the publicity, those in the far-right party must think.
Among the exceptions, some are smile-inducing. How The Voice of Galicia and his "Feijóo will negotiate with all parties except Bildu," which subtly positions Vox as just one of many possible alliances, when everything suggests that it will be essential to bolster his chances of governing. The World, Abc and The reason They also save him the trouble, which is why they've been playing in his favor for years, but when you leave the M30, the vast majority are clear about it and focus on Vox on the front pages. As the great philosopher Josep Lluís Núñez said, you can't fool your members. And Abascal is already rubbing his hands together.
