Nerves in the Catalan PP for the leadership that Alejandro Fernández is preparing

BarcelonaCalm, serene, and placid are three adjectives used within the Catalan PP to refer to the regional congress that will be held on June 27. Who would have thought, when not long ago Alejandro Fernández seemed doomed by Alberto Núñez Feijóo's inner circle. But there is still uncertainty in some of the moves to shape the new leadership. Especially in a triple change that is being strongly rumored within the PP, with the bet made by Fernández himself, according to multiple sources consulted by ARA: to remove the historic Santi Rodríguez from the general secretariat – so that he ceases to be number two, as he has been until now – and to have the position pass to the current parliamentary spokesperson, Juan Fernández. The consequence would be that the spokesperson position in the Catalan chamber would go to Lorena Roldán, currently deputy, the most questioned piece of the puzzle.

The unease in some sectors of the party is knowing where Fernández will place his circle of trust. Some cadres recall "the disaster" that was the leadership chosen in 2018 during a turbulent period. Among others, it resulted in two resignations due to criminal accusations – from Albert Fernández Saltiveri and Daniel Serrano, who have not been judicially convicted – and with a member of the leadership, Antonio Gallego, who moved to Vox. There are also some members who remain, such as Isaac Martín Salvà or Llanos de Luna, with such minimal involvement that several popular members wonder "where they are".

In any case, regarding the names, one element is already defined: "There will be no family quotas" and "Alejandro will have a lot to say". Juan Fernández has "many chances" of becoming the general secretary, according to numerous sources, although there are voices warning that the move planned to achieve the change in Parliament in favor of Roldán "is not clear". The reservations aroused by the former Ciutadans deputy, who is also the only deputy in Parliament clearly alejandrista, are not few, and there are voices pushing for Juan Fernández to keep the spokesperson position, a scenario that would represent a blow to the Catalan leader. Nevertheless, the party's statutes are aimed at ending the duplication of positions.

According to various popular sources consulted, Juan Fernández also raises doubts in his role as an orator and for his rigidity in aligning with the directives of the national leadership and in managing the parliamentary group, although it is also highlighted that he is flexible and does not cause problems for an Alejandro Fernández who is consolidated in everyone's eyes. Juan Fernández's role in the Catalan chamber is that of an executor, since the ideological task is not driven by him, but by the Catalan leader, but he does have a good connection with the national leadership. Furthermore, he comes from the Badalona ranks of Xavier García Albiol, the hard line.

The objective is to achieve a "more functional structure", but names matter and so far families have too. At this time, according to knowledgeable sources, the intention is that "everything is agreed" and "it is calm". Despite the room for maneuver that Génova grants to Fernández, everything will have to go through the path of agreement. "Everything is very advanced", they say.

Pressure

named by the state leadership legal operators secretaryas in the last Spanish congress, pacts with Junts are explicitly vetoed.

Milián is a rising name in the state leadership and is the coordinator of programs in the Catalan leadership; now his role in the new autonomous leadership will have to be defined. Another name on the rise is that of deputy Pere Huguet, close to Feijóo, appointed by the state leadership as secretary of legal operators. But Feijóo's man in Catalonia continues to be the Barcelona leader, Daniel Sirera, who will be a natural member of the leadership due to his position and to whom the Galician leader continues to consult key decisions. For his part, Alejandro Fernández made it clear in his book A calzón quitao that his trusted people, Daniel Serrano and Albert Fernández Saltiveri, had to be reinstated after an alleged internal destruction campaign. Will both have a place in the leadership again?

Congress

Close to Dolors Montserrat, Xavier García Albiol, Alejandro Fernández and Alberto Fernández Díaz, in Génova they made a place for themselves on the lists for the Catalan elections of 2024, representing their political families. Now, sources assure, it will not be like this in this congress, even though everyone wants to influence it. The PP is now convening the congress, after four years postponing it after having noted that "there are zero hopes" of going to the polls in Spain before 2027. And an impulse is desired for Catalonia and for the leadership of Alejandro Fernández, with whom there has been a reconciliation.