Political Turmoil at Upcoming Conference of Presidents in Barcelona
The upcoming Conference of Presidents in Barcelona, scheduled for this Friday, appears to be destined for failure before it even begins. High levels of political tension, threats of boycotts, and a sprawling agenda are likely to render this meeting ineffective, despite calls from the opposition for its organization following a six-month hiatus since the last conference in Santander.
Among the issues on the table, a significant focus will again be on public housing, an area that Prime Minister Sánchez previously sought to address with his proposal in Cantabria for a permanent and irreversible public housing framework. However, with that goal unfulfilled, the government aims to propose a substantial increase in housing spending — suggesting an increase to 7 billion euros, funded partly through contributions from the Autonomous Communities, which would cover 40% of this new budget.
Nevertheless, the People's Party (PP) has vehemently opposed these housing measures, dismissing them as political maneuvering by Sánchez amidst scandals, such as the Koldo case and recent issues involving activist Leire Díez.
Another pressing issue at the conference is regional funding and debt restructuring, where negotiations have stalled for months. The PP-led regions plan to advocate for immediate updates on advance payments and the withdrawal of a law project related to debt forgiveness — a central point among the eight agenda items they have insisted upon.
In total, the agenda has ballooned to 14 topics, each regional president set to address in a mere 10 minutes — a daunting task, particularly given that many of the additional subjects stem from demands made by the PP leaders, who publicly threatened to walk out if their requirements were not met. The government, feeling constrained by its own rules, accepted the inclusion of these issues. However, there are concerns that this expansion merely complicates the dialogue, with spokesperson Pilar Alegría questioning whether the increase in topics truly encourages consensus or if it serves to obstruct meaningful discussion.
Amidst this tumult, some agenda items are especially contentious, such as the proposed discussions on the Judiciary reform bill, which lies strictly within state jurisdiction, and measures regarding rent control that seem to distract from addressing real housing issues in Spain.
The PP’s agenda also includes demands for the repeal of the housing law, an extension of the lifespan of nuclear power plants, and the annulment of special pacts with Catalonia concerning both funding and migration — aspects unlikely to find resolution during the conference.
Adding to the drama, President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, threatened to leave the meeting if any regional leader speaks in a co-official language, asserting, "Either we speak Spanish or I will leave. I will not put on the earpiece." This statement comes in response to approval from the central government for a proposal favorable to both the Catalan and Basque autonomous governments to use co-official languages.
If the regional leaders of the PP had any inclination toward reaching agreements, the very structure of the agenda imposed by Génova imposes significant limitations on that possibility. Just two days after the conference, the PP leadership has planned a demonstration in Madrid portraying the PSOE as a mafia organization under Sánchez's leadership, further complicating any willingness for bipartisan discussions. Members within the party privately recognize the political risk of forming any agreements, with one Vox spokesperson emphasizing the apparent inconsistency of negotiating with what they label as a mafia.
While the government is not optimistic about achieving substantial agreements, it aims to project an image of institutional normalcy amidst the surrounding chaos. The choice of Barcelona as the meeting venue holds its significance, with the Catalan capital being the center again for a gathering of Spain's political leadership, marked by the presence of the highest state authority and Socialist President Salvador Illa as the host.
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