After the regional agreements between PP and Vox, the relations between both parties and Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Santiago Abascal have strengthened to such an extent that, according to sources close to both leaders, contact has been “permanent” in recent weeks due to the Ceuta crisis, where more than 70,000 immigrants crossed the border from Morocco. Moreover, after the formation of the regional governments, both parties seem to have divided the roles: the PP is focused on attracting centrist voters by winning over critics of Pedro Sánchez to consolidate the right-wing majority, while Vox tries to capture the vote most dissatisfied with the current political situation.
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The relationship is “cordial” between both leaders, as acknowledged in their circles, and the improvement is also noticeable publicly, where both have practically set aside any kind of public reproach, something that is especially emphasized in Vox.
Sémper sees the resignation of the chief of staff of the delegate in Ceuta as insufficient
The truth is that, with the Ceuta crisis, both parties agree on many things, although they show a different tone. The PP’s discourse has been forceful against Morocco and also against the Government and has appeared in the case before the National Court, where no one has yet been charged although no one from the Government could be investigated either because it corresponds to the Supreme Court. It does not reach the intensity shown by Vox, which advocates breaking relations with Rabat and taking Sánchez and the ministers before the Supreme Court for the crime of treason.
In any case, the PP continues with its criticisms of the Government and demands for accountability. Spokesperson Borja Sémper rejected that the resignation of the chief of staff of the Government delegate in Ceuta is enough to clarify all responsibilities. “It’s a joke that more than a month after the assault in Ceuta, only one advisor has resigned,” he said during a visit to Vigo this Saturday.
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Gonzalo Sanz resigned on Friday as chief of staff after it was revealed that the Government Delegation was aware of warnings about a possible massive crossing of immigrants through a WhatsApp message from a CNI agent. The PP, awaiting how the judicial investigation progresses in the National Court, believes that there is shared responsibility between Morocco and the Spanish Government in the massive entry into Ceuta. The Popular Party believes that Rabat is involved in the organization “by action or omission” of the massive crossing of 70,000 immigrants, but also that the Government ignored the warnings from the previous days from Spanish intelligence.
The PP spokesperson also valued Morocco’s statement on Thursday and considered that the attacks on Feijóo’s party are the result of the anticipation of a political change in Spain. “The Government of Morocco knows that with Feijóo the political position of Spain will not be the same as that of Pedro Sánchez,” he said. “Ceuta and Melilla and of course, the Canary Islands, are not up for discussion. And every time the Government of Morocco or one of its ministers says that Ceuta and Melilla or the Canary Islands are Moroccan, that is an aggression against Spain,” he warned. After the declassified reports last Wednesday, the national leadership of the PP has designed a communication strategy that involves avoiding “overacting” and trying to unify the message throughout Spain – this is an instruction to the regional leaders –.
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