Feijóo maintains pressure on Junts and the PNV for a motion of no confidence

MadridAlberto Núñez Feijóo wants general elections to be called in Spain and is taking advantage of the alleged corruption cases plaguing the PSOE and, consequently, the Spanish government, to pressure for them. "Spain is fed up," the PP leader exclaimed this Sunday from the Temple of Debod in Madrid, at the seventh demonstration organized by the People's Party against Pedro Sánchez's government since the start of the legislature. But the key to a general election lies with Sánchez, who has repeatedly stated his intention to serve out his term. That is, to call elections in 2027. For this reason, the PP has been flirting with the idea of a motion of no confidence for days, although it hasn't yet pursued it because the numbers don't add up. Currently, it would only have the support of Vox. And it is in this context that Feijóo looks to the PNV and Junts, whom he challenged this Sunday to "retract": "How much longer will you swallow?" Feijóo asked them. The PP leader accused them of "supporting" the "corruption" of the Spanish government. Before 40,000 demonstrators, according to the Spanish government delegation – 80,000 according to PP sources – Feijóo wanted to make it clear that he is not throwing in the towel with either the PNV or Junts, even though Carles Puigdemont's party once again distanced itself from this scenario.They will help him convince Junts to support a motion.

From the Leire case to Ábalos' imprisonment

The trigger for the latest demonstration against Pedro Sánchez's government was the revelations in the Leire case, while now it has been the provisional imprisonment of the former PSOE organizational secretary and former Minister of Transport, José Luis Ábalos – who this Sunday warned, in a message to X from Soto del Real prison, that they won't "make a mockery of him." "Sanchismo is in prison and must leave [Moncloa Palace]," exclaimed Feijóo, who even predicted that Pedro Sánchez himself will end up behind bars: "There were four of them in that Peugeot; three of them [José Luis Ábalos, Santos Cerdán;" "And Santos Cerdán," Feijóo stated, referring to the Spanish president. "We have never seen them [the PP] mobilize for labor improvements," retorted the spokesperson for the Spanish government, Pilar Alegría, this Sunday, in response to the Popular Party's call to action.

Although the trigger was not the same, the PP repeated its slogan: "Mafia or democracy." Throughout the entire event, and not by chance, the music from the historic film played. The Godfather With the aim of drawing a parallel between the feature film and the Spanish government, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, explained to the attendees: "Sanchismo's plan is [Don Vito] Corleone's plan. There is no plan without Don Vito. Nor is there one.

Exodus in a few minutes

Those attending the rally were summoned to the Temple of Debod at noon, a much smaller space compared to Plaza Colón, Puerta de Alcalá, or thePuerta del Solwhere in previous demonstrations the gaps between protesters had been evident. Despite temperatures nearing freezing, the midday sun encouraged thousands of people to come to the area. However, at vermouth time, when the event ended, everyone left quickly, leaving the space deserted in a matter of minutes.

This time, the Popular Party had also asked that the party's symbols be set aside – the Spanish flag was prominent at the event – because it was an "open" and "non-partisan" demonstration, but more than one attendee brought out the PP logo from home. In fact, 500 meters from the Popular Party's protest, the youth wing of Vox had called for another demonstration. Feijóo specifically sought to differentiate himself from the far right: "We are a different party," he said, although he acknowledged that they share a common ground: "I will not mistake my adversary. My adversary is Sánchez and my objective is change [...] Don't be mistaken, Abascal, about your objective, as they have just bought the ideological agenda in the Valencian Community to replace Carlos Mazón with Juanfran Pérez Llorca."

Ayuso and the specter of terrorism

Feijóo was accompanied by José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy, as well as almost all the males Members of the People's Party (PP), including the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, were present, and the crowd greeted her with chants of "Ayuso, Ayuso, Ayuso." The Madrid president has been less conciliatory towards Basque nationalists and Catalan separatists. "Sánchez is the same as someone who allows amnesty for a fugitive from justice," Ayuso criticized, referring to Carles Puigdemont. In fact, Ayuso implicated all the parties that supported the Spanish prime minister in the "mafia" that, in her opinion, the Spanish government represents. Again, Ayuso was particularly harsh on the agreements between Bildu and the PSOE, taking the opportunity to raise the specter of terrorism once more: "ETA is preparing its assault on the Basque Country and Navarre," she stated.