Ten things Feijóo must resolve to become president

BarcelonaJosé María Aznar was said to lack charisma, an indeterminate quality presumed in politicians who aspire to govern. It took him seven years, but he finally ousted Felipe González in 1996, leaving behind slogans that resonated with the public, such as "Go away, Mr. Gonzalez"or, later on, the"Spain is doing wellIt also took Mariano Rajoy seven years to reach La Moncloa. He did so with a very different style from his predecessor, but also amid criticism of being a politician without charisma or leadership in the People's Party. Alberto Núñez Feijóo finds himself in a similar situation today. The PSOE is in crisis, just as it was in 1996 and during the 2020 Sánchez administration., A political current that the PP blames for all of Spain's ills. This week, Feijóo reviewed the year, pointing to the ten major failures of Pedro Sánchez's government, but he too has issues to address if he wants to become president.

The PP's dependence on Vox has been evident since Juanma Moreno Bonilla needed them in 2018 to end 40 years of Socialist rule in Andalusia. Since then, whenever the PP has failed to secure an absolute majority, Vox has been the one to help them achieve it. But that formula didn't work for Feijóo two years ago, and it might not work for him in the next Spanish elections if the combined seats of the PP and Vox don't reach 176. To build alliances with other political groups —basically with the PNV and Junts— is necessary to have alternatives to the far right. However, on Monday Feijóo acknowledged that his goal is to govern with the support of Vox, albeit without sharing a cabinet.

2026 could begin with an unexpected crisis for Feijóo. The judge has asked him for the messages he sent to Carlos Mazón. During the night of October 29th of last year. What did he tell her that he now doesn't want to be known? So far, the PP leader has only provided the investigating judge with the WhatsApps which he received from Mazón. Managing this problem will be key, as will consolidating the leadership of the new president of the Valencian Generalitat, preventing Mazón's incompetence from further tarnishing the PP, and reining in an emboldened Francisco Camps, who wants to challenge the party leadership. And, of course, maintaining the Valencian government when the elections come.

"Sanchismo didn't become corrupted by power, but rather came to power corrupted, in order to seize control of the State." This is the basis of Feijóo's relationship with the Spanish government, which resorts to apocalyptic terms when it has to assess its success. "It is the worst government in that country's democratic history."The PP leader keeps repeating this, comparing the upcoming state elections to a "crossroads" on par with Spain's entry into the EU, the arrival of the euro, or the Transition. Feijóo boasts that the PP has presented 38 bills in the Valencian Parliament (Les Corts) and several plans on crucial issues like housing, but none of them have received much publicity. If the PP wants to differentiate itself from Vox—with whom it shares a broad base of voters—it must start building, not just destroying, because the far right will always feel more comfortable in a climate of destruction.

In a bizarre argument, Feijóo argued on Monday that In Extremadura, the PP will now be less dependent on Vox. than he had before the elections because he won't need their votes in favor. Of course, he will always need their abstention, meaning that Vox can continue to block anything in María Guardiola's government that doesn't suit them. Feijóo needs more decisive victories in Aragon, Castile and León, and especially Andalusia.

That the PP will take a stand against the proposed new financing model Whatever it may be, it's an open secret, but Feijóo will have to tread carefully to avoid any rebellion from his inner circle. The Balearic Islands, Valencia, and Andalusia will likely benefit if the new model is approved. What will he promise them in exchange for forgoing the billions they could potentially receive?

The Supreme Court is blocking the implementation of the amnesty, but the European Court of Justice could overturn that veto at any moment. How will the People's Party (PP) handle this? the return of Carles PuigdemontWill he burn all bridges with Junts or will he prefer to criticize it without the vehemence he used against the amnesty law?

Catalonia is a black hole for the PPIn the 2023 elections, the bloc supporting Pedro Sánchez's investiture won 40 seats, compared to the 8 won by the PP and Vox combined. This difference is too large for the right wing to achieve an absolute majority in Spain. Polls do not predict a significant shift in the upcoming general election and even suggest Vox could overtake the PP.

Feijóo will be the PP candidate unless there's a major upset. He will be because Isabel Díaz Ayuso won't challenge him for the position, at least not for the time being. The leadership of the popular president has often been questioned And the public hasn't perceived him as the party's true leader. Feijóo needs to solidify an external image of strength, which his frequent gaffes don't help either.

Carlos Mazón lasted a year as president of the Generalitat despite his poor handling of the DANA storm, which killed 230 people in Valencia, because Feijóo didn't intervene sooner. Alejandro Fernández has been president of the PP in Catalonia for three years despite constant power struggles with the party's national headquarters in Madrid, including public criticism. which he even included in a bookThe PP president is often criticized for his inability to bring order to the party internally.

There are two years left until the elections if Sánchez manages to hold onto his term until the end. This period could be very long for Feijóo, who must manage to reach it without any major scandals. So far, he has already had to deal with at least two: the Mazón administration and Errors in the diagnosis of breast cancer in AndalusiaA corruption case in any regional government could be fatal for the PP's plans. And beware of those who come from the past, like the Montoro case.