Feijóo in Moncloa: What now?

BarcelonaIf we're honest, we must agree that only a magnitude 8 earthquake can prevent a majority formed by the PP and Vox in the next Spanish elections. Go away, Mr. Gonzalez. Aznar's 94-95 (with a media conspiracy to expose the dirty laundry of Felipe González's government) and the street unrest that took place against Zapatero (demonstrations against dialogue with ETA, gay marriage, the return of the Salamanca papers in Catalonia, etc.). Feijóo is convinced he can step on the gas and then, from the Moncloa Palace, he'll be able to brake, just as his predecessors did. Let's remember that Aznar made a pact with CiU and the PNV, and Rajoy didn't repeal the emblematic laws of Zapatero's administration. The question is: will Feijóo really have the room to turn things around, given a partner like Vox and pressure from Ayuso?

And then there's the issue of democratic coexistence. Experiences like Trump's show that polarization eventually seeps into society. The anti-Sanchista hatred being fueled in the streets won't disappear overnight. Feijóo won't be able to say, "That's it, all this was just a strategy to get to power." Some of his supporters will demand that he launch a policy of revenge against Sánchez and his partners, especially the Catalans and Basques. How does Feijóo intend to handle this? Will he be able, from the Moncloa Palace, to dismantle the power core of the Madrid People's Party (PP), as Rajoy unsuccessfully tried to do?

Waiting for the miracle

The PSOE is still banking on a miracle for a comeback, but they would do well to start preparing the ground for defeat. And here the big question Sánchez must answer is the same as Feijóo's: on the accelerator or on the brakes? Slowing down is not Sánchez's style, and, furthermore, in this context, he offers few incentives. On the other hand, accelerating (in the amnesty, financing, housing, memory, dismantling of radial Spain, etc.) does have advantages. The more Sánchez-led work, the more difficulties for Feijóo, the more contradictions within the PP, and the more platforms for the future PSOE opposition.

The details

At the Pedralbes summit, the participants' menu was created by chef Carles Gaig, but the one for journalists was from the Madrid-based company Catering Spain, which regularly hosts major events in the Spanish capital and has its employees wear a Spanish flag on their uniforms. For the occasion, they cooked two large pans.

When Economy Minister Alícia Romero stood up from her seat on Wednesday to present the third supplementary credit to Parliament, she bumped into Junts MP Albert Batet, who was leaving the chamber. "Let him present it in Cid!" the member of the Junts party told the minister, whom he often criticizes for her pacts with Comuns. "You're tremendous," she replied in a friendly tone.