Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has warned the opposition People's Party to reject Catalan separatist pacts and form a national majority with Vox.
Aznar cautioned People's Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo against seeking short-term tactical agreements with Carles Puigdemont's Junts per Catalunya party in a rushed attempt to oust Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez from Moncloa Palace.
The former conservative leader said Spain's upcoming general election will be the most decisive since the restoration of democracy, warning that voters must act to prevent a fundamental change to the nation's political system.
Aznar urged party leaders at their Genova 13 headquarters in Madrid to shed the anxiety that has affected the organization since the July 2023 general election. He emphasized that striking a deal with Catalan separatists would undermine the core identity and founding principles of the People's Party.
Historical Lessons and Political Alignment
To illustrate the dangers of relying on regional nationalist parties, Aznar pointed to former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was deposed in June 2018. Rajoy had secured budget support from the Basque Nationalist Party following negotiations marked by high-profile spending promises, only for the Basque party to turn around days later and vote for the no-confidence motion that brought Sanchez to power.
Aznar noted that shared concern over Spain's political direction has aligned his perspective with former Socialist Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez. Despite being historic political opponents, both former heads of government have publicly criticized the current administration's policy regarding Venezuela and expressed anxiety over the nation's political stability.
Parliamentary Stalemate and the Right-Wing Partnership
While parliamentary pacts are traditional in Spanish politics to ensure governability, Aznar argued that the current legislature relies on a voting bloc created solely to secure Sanchez's investiture. He stated that the administration has failed to pass essential legislation or approve a national budget despite making repeated concessions to regional separatists.
Aznar served as prime minister from 1996 to 2004 representing the centre-right People's Party, while Gonzalez led the country from 1982 to 1996 for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. Sanchez has served as prime minister since 2018, leading a coalition government supported by regional parties.
Aznar concluded that the People's Party must reject opportunistic parliamentary pacts and prioritize agreements with groups that share a clear vision for Spain. He stated that the People's Party and Vox are compelled to work together, arguing that only their partnership can deliver the national majority required to guarantee political change.
