Feijóo is going to visit the King today “as leader of the party that won the last elections and with the intention of forming a “sufficient and broad majority” to allow the formation of a government” and trusts that Vox “will comply with the word given”, according to Bendodo pointed out today in an interview with RNE. He is “the candidate who has the most support”, he assures, now the King will see if he commissions him to go to the investiture. In this case, “we from the Popular Party will be delighted, fulfilling his mandate and trying to reach agreements to form a sufficient agreement.”
The general coordinator of the PP believes that “we should avoid political tacticism and extending or reducing deadlines”, and “the sooner this situation is resolved, the better”, he said in the interview collected by Servimedia.
In the absence of an absolute majority, “it takes time for negotiation, dialogue and talking with the other parties.” Despite this, he assured that today Feijóo goes to the round of contacts with the King “with broad support such as those of the only two deputies of the Canary Islands Coalition and UPN.”
Vox also expressed its support in a statement”, he argued. “We trust not only in the word given, not only in the statements issued, but also in the document that has been transferred to the whole of Spanish society”. UPN and Canarian Coalition “They complied with what they said, which was to support the investiture of the PP candidate and we hope that Vox does the same.”
Bendodo has commented that Vox assured in a statement after the elections that it was not going to block a constitutional government led by the Popular Party, but that it was going to support it without asking for anything in return. “That document is still valid for us”, because “Vox usually keeps its word” and, therefore, “we are convinced that there are no reasons why it should not be fulfilled at the key moment”.
The general coordinator of the PP insisted that with the votes of PP, Vox, CC and UPN, more than 11 million Spaniards voted for the change on July 23 and “we cannot disappoint those expectations of change.” That is why “our intention today is to go to the King and convey to him that we have 172 supports.” On the other hand, “Sánchez now says that he is not in a hurry because he starts to count and the accounts do not come out”, because “at most, he can go with his 121 seats plus the 30 to add, which will have to see if the five of Podemos agree agreement because they are going to ask for their part”, he assures.
A legislature based on the 172 support of President Feijóo must be built and we must “continue working and adding more support until that date”, because “there are four votes for that majority to be sufficient to govern.” The general coordinator of the PP indicated that the negotiations, “in order for them to come to fruition, they have to be discreet and transparent when agreements are reached (…). When we manage to build a broader majority, it will be publicly explained.”
“In the end, all this that seems very complex is reduced to three options in Spain: blockade and electoral repetition if Sánchez gives in or not in the event that he goes to the investiture with the message of instability that we give to the members of the European Union “.
The alternative to Feijóo, he continues, is an investiture “with the party that lost the elections” to what he has called “Plan B of Spain” and plans B “are always botched.” That is why he is betting on “a lone government of the Popular Party” with only PP ministers against a Sánchez government plus 24 parties that “each will ask for their own”, so “it would be absolutely ungovernable”. Therefore, “the fast track and the correct track is for the party that won the elections to govern,” he settles.
The general secretary of the PP and spokesperson in Congress, Cuca Gamarra, who gave a press conference today after signing the commitment with CC, has confirmed for her part that Feijóo will show her willingness to go to the investiture, and also considers that in Vox they will maintain their support “without consideration” despite the setback of the Congress Table, and considered that they will abide by what has already been announced, their support for Feijóo without consideration.
Regarding the agreement with Coalición Canaria, the PP has promised to maintain its commitments with the island of La Palma, to extend over time the 80% personal income tax bonuses, “which we assume until 2027”, and a monitoring commission to for the island to reach the growth it had before the volcano.
Another outstanding measure, he said, is to consolidate the 75% bonus for air and sea transport, in addition to “matching the discounts for buses and trams” to those that exist in Cercanías. “Everything is based on the principle of equality between Spaniards.”
The BNG spokesman in Congress, Néstor Rego, who like Bildu, ERC and Junts has not participated in the round of consultations, has confirmed for his part that his formation will vote against Feijóo if he appears for the investiture, and He has also warned the PSOE that they will not give “a blank check to anyone and that they will defend that the future Spanish Government assume the Galician agenda.”
“On the 17th, Feijóo’s failure was confirmed. The Popular Party only added two votes to his, a total of 139, far from a sufficient majority to govern,” Rego said in an appearance. In his opinion, if he insists on attending the investiture and King Felipe VI entrusts him with this task, “what he will achieve is that this failure will be even more visible and evident.” In any case, he stressed that the BNG “will vote against it.”
He also indicated that “if the forces that aspire to govern, PSOE and Sumar, want to have the vote of the BNG in the inauguration of Sánchez, they will have to bet decisively on Galicia and comply with everything agreed”: greater investment in infrastructures and services, especially in the railway sector; social policies for the majority; attention to the industrial crisis, promotion of employment, fair transition and adequate environmental policies and advances in self-government.
