The leader of the People’s Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said this Saturday that the European People’s Party is concerned about the “antidemocratic drift” of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and has pledged to “take measures” if “the erosion of the quality of Spanish democracy” by the Spanish government does not stop.
“The practices of the Sánchez government against judges, against freedom of expression and against journalists are incompatible with respect for the separation of powers and the freedom of expression guaranteed in the European treaties,” Feijóo stated in a declaration sent to the media from Berlin, where he is taking part at the CDU headquarters on the second day of work with prime ministers and leaders of the EPP.
Feijóo recalled that the European Union has acted “on numerous occasions” in response to “the deterioration of democratic quality” in other member states, such as Poland or Hungary, and he celebrated that his European colleagues have shown concern about the “antidemocratic drift” that, in his view, the Government is pursuing. “The entire European People’s Party commits to taking the necessary measures if the erosion of the quality of Spanish democracy by the Sánchez government does not stop,” the PP leader stressed.
For Feijóo, the Prime Minister “no longer governs” but “remains in power only to defend himself from the scandals surrounding him.” “He no longer has the respect of the majority of the Chamber and he is taking the country, the Constitution and Spanish democracy into an agonizing phase,” the opposition leader reproached, who believes that the legislature has moved “from a guarded forecast to an irreversible situation.” “That Sánchez humiliates himself is his problem, but we are fed up with him humiliating our country,” he lamented.
Along these lines, Feijóo insisted that members of the European People’s Party have asked him about the corruption affecting the Prime Minister and his family circle, as well as the investigations into the Attorney General of the State for an alleged crime of revealing secrets and the ‘Begoña Law’, the name by which the PP has dubbed the PSOE’s initiative to limit the ‘popular’ accusation and “with which Sánchez intends to carry out a preventive amnesty for his family.”
HOUSING AND IMMIGRATION
First of all, Feijóo has shown his support for the CDU candidate, Friedrich Merz, in the German federal elections, advocating for a political change “based on rigor, growth and responsibility.” That will be great news for the stability of all Europe,” he assured.
The PP leader has noted that his party has defended “Spain’s interests” at this summit, giving voice, among other things, to the housing crisis. He defended the proposals that the ‘populars’ have been advocating in recent months also from the regional governments, such as fiscal measures that reduce the VAT to 4% on new housing for young people. A plan, according to Feijóo, in contrast to the “Sánchez model,” which “has proven to be a failure” and “lacks credibility.” “He has the opportunity to copy some of our measures and young Spaniards will thank him,” he urged the head of the Government.
The opposition leader also conveyed at the PPE summit the “concern” of Spanish farmers and ranchers about the entry into force of the free trade agreement with Mercosur, a “good news” for the economy but where it cannot be accepted that the Spanish countryside “be harmed” nor “compete on unequal terms in the market.”
“That is why we have argued for taking measures that help our farmers so that they have conditions with which to compete on equal terms,” the PP leader said, who also reported in the joint declaration that the review of the current protection of the wolf in the Community rules has been agreed.
Regarding the migratory crisis, Feijóo noted that his European colleagues have found that the route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is “the fastest growing, with record numbers of arrivals,” while in other parts of Europe “it has significantly decreased.” “We have defended the need to strengthen the fight against mafias, to accelerate returns and to increase cooperation with countries of origin and transit,” the political leader said, who highlighted Mauritania and Senegal, and also Frontex, which “must play a leading role in border protection” despite the Spanish Government “not wanting” it.
DENOUNCING THE MADURO REGIME
On another note, Feijóo explained that the Spanish PP has included in the joint declaration a mention of the situation in Venezuela, denouncing the Nicolás Maduro regime and not forgetting “that there has been a coup d’état and electoral fraud.” “We stand with the Venezuelan people and their freedom,” he emphasized.
The PP leader also thanked for the concern and expressions of affection from his European colleagues regarding the situation in Valencia after Storm Dana, while recalling that the EPP decided that this city would host its next congress in May 2025. “It is an honor to contribute from the People’s Party to the recovery and relaunch of Valencia. It is an honor that, from Spain, a congress is held aimed at reviving and improving the first party of Europe and, consequently, the entire European Union,” he added.
