“We have to not trust ourselves”warns a prominent regional president. «You don’t have to take the game for granted. Until the referee whistles, we have to fight it, it’s not done», says a deputy close to Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
There is a tense calm in the ranks of the Popular Party. “Finally!” the candidate exclaimed yesterday as soon as he learned of the decision of Pedro Sanchezwho saw in Maricarmen and housing his only opportunity to come back in the polls and, even at the risk of backing down once again, decided to go ahead with the polls.
The phrase used by the popular president accurately reflects the mood of his formation. After three extra years on the bench, the moment of truth arrived. Second round. And last. It’s now, or never.
The call caught almost no one off guard. At ten in the morning, Feijóo appeared solemnly. He was wearing the smile. From ear to ear. Unable to hide his joy. «The number of times you have heard me in this room ask for elections», he commented to the press. As soon as he took the floor, he celebrated: “It’s the only good news that Sánchez could give at this point.”
An hour before his statement, the PP had published a promotional spot on all social networks. “At last”. And, hours later, an immense tarp was deployed over the headquarters of Génova 13. “Finally.”
Among the popular leadership, no one doubts that Moncloa is closer and, at the same time, no one wants to ring the bells ahead of time. Those around Feijóo assure that they are very aware of the mistakes of the past. That is why no one will take anything for granted before, on Sunday, November 29, the polls close and a clear winner is proclaimed.
There are 53 days left and the dilemma that Feijóo outlined as soon as he put on the candidate’s suit is simple: “This is about Spain beating Sánchez and what he represents, “that the nation and democracy defeat those who have caused the most damage”. A preview of his strategy, which will consist of presenting the next elections as the most important since the Transition.
At stake: nothing less than the constitutional system of ’78. For this reason, democratic regeneration, as confirmed by sources from the leadership to LA RAZÓN, will be a key point of the electoral program. The main idea-force. The “repeal of sanchismo and not its replacement” as a leitmotif. The goal is to garner more votes and deputies. No sufficient majorities or solo or coalition governments. Win and govern.
On Sunday, Miguel Tellado He spent the day on the seventh floor of the national headquarters, meeting with his team. All the sources consulted by this newspaper expect Feijóo to name him campaign director. Then, when the dissolution of the Cortes was a rumor with the appearance of truth, he reviewed the contingency plans that had been prepared for some time and that remained in a drawer.
The idea of advancement, in reality, has been present since the beginning of a legislature that, on the other hand, the popular ones believe should never have started. «Finally Spain will say what it thinks, Finally the majority will speak again, finally the Spaniards will decide. Not a few, not just one, all Spaniards. Finally we can close this time and open a better one. Finally, someone who should never have come this far can leave. Finally we will vote and, finally, Spain will be able to choose the country it wants to be.Feijóo summarized.
Sánchez’s intention to turn the polls into a plebiscite between “rights and rights”between the candid left versus the “vulture” right, the PP will respond with an amendment to the entire socialist balance. Far from shying away from the housing debate, Núñez Feijóo intends to face it with data, data and more data. And with proposals.
«Sánchez has been governing for eight years, if he wants to make people believe that we are the problem, go ahead»ironically in the popular leadership, where they see it unlikely that the incipient mobilizations or the general strike announced by the unions will turn against them.
Internal demoscopy points to a right that is more mobilized than ever. And the elephant has long since left the room. The PP reaches the polls after starting a new territorial alliance with Vox. The confrontations were left behind. «We are going to talk about Pedro Sánchez. Our enemy is Pedro Sánchez, not Vox. “We talk about Pedro Sánchez, not Abascal.”. Feijóo’s entourage neither confirms nor denies whether there was a call between both leaders yesterday.
This time, the foreseeable “tension” will not lead to a confrontation. The only objective is Sánchez. «Between corruption and decency, between decadence and prosperity“Between a Government that only aspires to survive and a country that thinks about its future, the question I propose to citizens is if they want four more years of what we are experiencing or if they want to give change a chance,” Feijóo insisted.
In his speech he combined denunciation with hope. “This stage is not yet over, but it is about to be if we do not trust each other.” In his opinion, Sánchez’s decision has to do with fear. «To know every last detail of what remains to be known in the tangle of open corruption cases. “The most serious of all democracy.” The countdown begins.