"A kiss and a hug from Pedro Sánchez": Montero's sevillanas triumph at the Catalan April Fair

BarcelonaThe Vice President of the Spanish Government and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, arrived at the April Fair in Catalonia this Friday, having won the Andalusian elections. to the socialist candidate In an event that has become a full-fledged campaign for Catalans with ties to Andalusia. Montero even started dancing a couple of sevillanas in the association's small house. Horses and Flamenco. rebujitos and fried fishNo one was talking about the special funding, the hot potato Montero faces this term, and which Salvador Illa's government will have to negotiate with the minister before June. At least, if it wants to fulfill the investiture pact with ERC.

In case it wasn't clear that Friday's event was intended to promote Montero in a region, Catalonia, where socialism is in good health, Salvador Illa made it explicit at the rally that concluded the socialist parade through the fair: "We need Montero to be the next president of the Junta. When she is, we will work together so that Andalusia can be a reality," he said from the PSC booth. After receiving a standing ovation from supporters while the song was playing Andalusia From El Kanka, Montero took the floor to proclaim the brotherhood between the two territories. "In Andalusia, we want Catalonia to progress. All those who think that confrontation, especially with Catalonia, brings electoral gains are mistaken," he said. And knowing the sympathies of the parish, he said goodbye with "a kiss and a hug from Pedro Sánchez."

The thesis defended by the Isla-Montero tandem is that what's good for Catalonia is good for Andalusia. It remains to be seen what balance the Socialists must strike to continue maintaining this if the new financing model represents a redistribution of resources that, as the PSC demands, causes Catalonia to gain ground in the distribution of resources to the detriment of other communities. In any case, Isla has sealed his alliance with Montero and took the opportunity to take a dig at Madrid's Isabel Díaz Ayuso. for the ugly act he did to the Spanish government at the May 2nd celebration in Madrid"I want to send my congratulations to all the people of Madrid, today being their day. For the Catalan festivals, we invite everyone, regardless of their government," she said, referring to the celebration in the Community of Madrid without any members of the Spanish government. Isla said goodbye with a request to Montero: that, when she becomes president of the regional government, she invite him to the Seville April Fair. In the absence of him voting for Andalusia, where the People's Party (PP) now has an absolute majority, the vice president gave Isla a pin with the cover of this year's Seville fair. He wore it on his lapel, where he usually wears the pin of the Generalitat (Catalan government).

A Rose Festival 2.0

The arrival of the PSC delegation at the April Fair this Friday became a second Rose Festival for Catalan socialism. Along with well-known faces like Isla, Montero, and the president of the Provincial Council, Lluïsa Moret, were mayors who are emerging after taking over from long-standing Socialist mayors, such as Mireia González (Santa Coloma) and Silvia Biosca (Pineda de Mar), who were clearly visible along the route. After years in which party booths have proliferated at the April Fair, only the Socialists and Vox remain. A euphoric minister, Jordi Hereu, opening act for Isla and Montero, recalled the party's historic presence at the "fair of coexistence": "Some come and go. We have always been there."

In fact, the only catcalls Montero received during her nearly two-hour tour of the fair came from a Vox supporter. However, Montero also courted a supporter of the ultras (who was wearing a Vox wristband) who asked for a photograph. "I like her, and she's my countrywoman," the man explained to ARA, as to why he approached her. During the walk, neither Isla nor Hereu dared to try the sevillanas. However, some high-ranking officials from the Generalitat were seen dancing the folkloric classic. Look at her face to face in the PSC house.