Sharp divisions have emerged within the Partido Popular (PP) after Alberto Núñez Feijóo signaled a new approach to Catalonia, seeking dialogue with Junts and advocating for moving beyond the ‘procés’. Unveiled at the Catalan PP congress in Barcelona, the move has drawn resistance from the party’s conservative wing, with José María Aznar and Isabel Díaz Ayuso publicly expressing concern over any perceived softening on Catalan separatism.
Feijóo’s call to “turn the page” on the ‘procés’ was intended to broaden the PP’s appeal in Catalonia and soften the party’s image as hostile to Catalan interests. The message has unsettled basic figures in the party, who argue that downplaying the independence conflict could weaken one of the PP’s core political assets. Information from EL PAÍS, influential voices on the party’s right flank believe that easing confrontation with Junts risks diluting the PP’s identity and alienating its traditional base.
The electoral figures help explain the push to widen the party’s appeal. In the definitive results of the 23 July 2023 general election, the PP won 137 seats nationally, compared with 121 for the PSOE; Junts secured seven. In Catalonia, the PSOE won 19 seats and the PP six: five in Barcelona and one in Tarragona. The region elects 48 of the 350 members of Congress, making it a impressive target for a party seeking to strengthen its national position. The PP’s reported internal objective is to double its Catalan representation to 12 deputies.
Feijóo’s overtures to Junts are also seen as an attempt to keep future parliamentary options open if the PP needs support in an investiture vote. No party won the 176 seats required for an absolute majority in the 350-member Congress in 2023, giving Junts and other regional parties potential influence over government-formation arithmetic. That tactical reality sits uneasily alongside the PP’s opposition to Catalan independence and to the constitutional and territorial structure advocated by Junts. Party insiders remain skeptical that Junts would back a PP-led motion of no confidence, citing the risk of being blamed for helping Vox enter government.
This week, Aznar delivered a pointed reminder that the PP’s goal should be to build a “national majority” that excludes Junts, emphasizing the need for a broad centrist coalition rather than reliance on separatist groups. Although he stopped short of directly criticizing Feijóo, his remarks have been interpreted internally as a warning against any strategy that depends on Catalan independence parties. Ayuso echoed this sentiment, urging the party to distance itself from the “constant separatist threat” and signaling her opposition to declaring the ‘procés’ era over.
The debate is tied to a practical campaign operation as well as differences in rhetoric. The PP has identified Girona and Lleida as provinces where it wants to recover representation, while seeking to contain Vox’s advance. Its Catalan organization includes regional leader Alejandro Fernández and secretary general Juan Fernández. Candidate selection and provincial organization are part of the effort to expand beyond the party’s six-seat result. Meanwhile, Feijóo’s approach to Junts and the post-‘procés’ field has become a focus of internal disagreement.
Within the PP, the dispute has exposed deeper anxieties about electoral prospects. Critics say the party’s stagnant polling numbers pose Feijóo’s basic challenge; his relationship with Junts is secondary. Recent surveys place the PP at around 32% support, below its result in the last general election and short of expectations given the current government’s vulnerabilities. Some party leaders warn that without a impressive shift in voter support, the PP may be forced into a coalition with Vox, a scenario many view as politically risky.
The internal dispute comes at a sensitive time for the PP, as Vox continues to exert influence in regional governments and push its agenda into mainstream conservative politics. Even centrist PP leaders, such as Juanma Moreno in Andalusia, have had to accommodate Vox in their administrations. The debate over strategy in Catalonia reflects broader questions about the PP’s direction and its ability to present a credible alternative to the current government, as well as the party’s alliances.
For context, the ‘procés’ refers to the political process initiated by Catalan separatists seeking independence from Spain, which peaked with the 2017 referendum and subsequent political crisis. The PP has historically positioned itself as a staunch defender of Spanish unity, making any shift in tone or alliances on this issue highly sensitive. The current tensions highlight Feijóo’s challenge: expanding the party’s reach in a region where the PSOE was the strongest force in 2023 while maintaining the PP’s basic identity. The outcome of the internal debate could shape the party’s strategy ahead of the next general election and influence the broader field of Spanish politics.
