Discontent in the Catalan People's Party (PP): Alejandro Fernández single-handedly amends Feijóo's course.

BarcelonaThe Catalan People's Party (PP) has not presented any amendments or stated a position on the proposals and their possible changes at the party's state congress. However, this was not the case for its leader, Alejandro Fernández: the top leader of the PP in the Principality has decided to amend Alberto Núñez Feijóo's course alone, without the approval of the rest of the Catalan leaders. This Wednesday, according to several sources consulted by ARA, no one else knew the content of the modification proposals he has presented when the deadline expires today. A stance that has generated unease among the leadership.

On the other hand, the PP in the Community of Madrid, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has backed down and opted not to challenge Feijóo with the reform of the primaries, which are now indirect. Madrid wanted to guarantee the principle of "one member, one vote"—as Fernández also publicly defended—but ultimately endorsed the changes and specifications they advocate for introducing into the regulations for congresses in the future.

Meeting in Catalonia

The party's executive committee in Catalonia meets this Thursday, the day after the deadline for submitting amendments closes. It is expected that the leader of the Catalan People's Party (PP), Alejandro Fernández, will present his proposals at that time.

The PP sources consulted confirm that so far there has been "no coordination" among the Catalan delegates ahead of the state congress and that Fernández, "no matter how hard he tries, is alone" among the leaders in Catalonia in maintaining the thesis that the rhetoric needs to be toughened. In fact, these consulted leaders, aligned with Feijóo, assure that the official political report is already moving in the right direction.

Other sources, along the same lines, also lament "the lack of awareness of the scope of the amendments" on the part of the PP leadership in Catalonia, since "they are presented individually and electronically and do not go through anyone from the PP."

Controversy with Fernández's line

Beyond Fernández's amendments, who, when contacted by ARA, declined to elaborate on the content he advocates—because he says he wants to compromise with the state leadership—several sources suggest that he was the one who presented a controversial amendment to veto pacts with the "sovereignty movement" and, specifically, with Junts, the party. Fernández wants to deprive Feijóo of the right to support Carles Puigdemont's party in his bid to become president of Spain. Although the Catalan leader declined to speak to this newspaper, The World has published the content of the amendment, which is in line with what it has already published The Vanguard Sunday. Fernández has repeatedly advocated a total veto of the nationalists and reforms to block them, just as he previously advocated confronting Feijóo when he demanded that the party not meet with Junts to discuss the investiture.

Fernández's amendment has caused quite a stir, and several sectors are upset. Fernández's followers are a very small minority among the cadres, but the Catalan leader himself has always boasted of having the support of his rank and file. In any case, sources consulted reject the veto of the pact with the sovereigntists and nationalists because they see it as a kind of "cordon sanitaire," which the PP has always criticized, including the one imposed on Vox.

Likewise, sources from the Catalan PP confirm that "only Alejandro wants to veto [these pacts] outright." This idea, in fact, is already maintained in his book. In underwear off, in which he calls for a frontal attack on Catalan nationalism—and Junts in particular. "Can't we reach an agreement with Junts on taxes or other issues with other parties?" other voices ask. In this sense, they maintain that prohibiting "agreeing on an independence referendum" is something, but that even reaching an agreement with the junts—beyond ideological coincidences—could be counterproductive because the scenarios could also change. "Alejandro only talks about nationalism," they lament. Another source suggests that they should be open to agreeing on points with any party and that "the party in Madrid will decide at each moment what."

They also lament the proposal Fernández made publicly last week in Reus, in which he argued that the PP should prioritize reforming the Constitution to protect "national unity," ensure that all parties abide by constitutional principles, and hinder sovereignty by reforming the electoral law. They believe it's inappropriate to address this debate, which makes Feijóo uncomfortable and for which there isn't even the necessary arithmetic. "A desire for prominence," these sources maintain, adding that he lacks internal support for several of the hardline positions he has been advocating.