Ayuso's Standoff with Sánchez: Regional PP Presidents Diverge on Bilateral Meetings
In a surprising turn of events, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the President of the Community of Madrid and a prominent figure in the Popular Party (PP), has publicly declared her intent to boycott upcoming bilateral meetings with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unless a concrete agenda is established in advance. This development marks a notable shift in strategy for Ayuso, who initially urged her fellow PP leaders to forgo these meetings. However, her call has not resonated across the party lines, with other regional presidents showing a willingness to engage with Sánchez.
Sources close to Ayuso have revealed that she is determined not to participate if the meeting is merely a casual encounter, reaffirming that past gatherings have been preceded by discussions on set agendas. "If it’s just for a coffee, she won’t go," sources told El HuffPost, illustrating Ayuso's insistence on a seriously structured dialogue.
While Ayuso's efforts to deter others from attending this meeting have seemingly backfired, her stance has coincided with an active engagement from other regional leaders. Recently, Galicia's President Alfonso Rueda, who is also from the PP, met with Sánchez and brought several proposals to the table. Rueda has publicly dismissed any notion of a trap in these discussions, as suggested by Ayuso, indicating a stark contrast in attitudes within the party.
Following Rueda’s initiative, Juan Moreno Bonilla, the President of Andalusia, is scheduled to meet with Sánchez this afternoon, signaling a continued trend among regional PP presidents to seek collaborative dialogue rather than retreat into isolation as suggested by Ayuso. This defiance from her peers illustrates a broader commitment to institutional relations, which Ayuso's stance seems to threaten.
The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has also opted not to endorse Ayuso’s stance, emphasizing that the PP is not a sect. He noted that it is the regional presidents' prerogative to determine the nature of their institutional relations. Furthermore, Feijóo has indicated that there will be no attempts to either encourage or discourage these meetings from the party headquarters in Génova.
Despite a consensus on rejecting Sánchez's proposal for singular financing in Catalonia, there appears to be a significant divergence in opinions regarding regional financing or debt forgiveness among the party's regional leaders. Feijóo has acknowledged this variability, suggesting that unity within the PP might be more challenging to achieve than anticipated.
As the situation unfolds, Ayuso finds herself isolated in her refusal to engage with Sánchez, while her counterparts embrace opportunities for dialogue. This dichotomy within the PP could have significant implications for the party's unity and approach as they navigate the complex political landscape ahead.
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