Feijóo's Catalonian call
Feijóo urges Catalonia to be the 'key' to remove Sánchez, accusing him of 'caudillismo'
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of Spain's main opposition party PP, traveled to Barcelona on Saturday to deliver a blunt message: Catalonia should be «the key» that removes Pedro Sánchez from the Moncloa palace. Speaking at the XVI Congress of the PP of Catalonia (PPC), Feijóo accused Sánchez of «caudillismo» — a word that evokes authoritarian rule — saying the president «laughs at Congress and governs against the express will of the Chamber,» according to La Opinión de Murcia.
The speech came days after a major parliamentary flashpoint. On June 25, the Spanish Congress passed a non-binding motion — backed by the PP, Vox, and the Catalan separatist party Junts — urging Sánchez to face a confidence vote or resign. Sánchez publicly refused, giving Feijóo the political ammunition to argue the government has lost its democratic legitimacy, according to El Periódico.
Feijóo Calls Sánchez's Defiance a 50-Year First
Feijóo did not hold back on the floor of the PPC congress. He said Sánchez's refusal to heed parliament was «typical of a caudillismo not seen in Spain for 50 years.» That framing is deliberate. The word «caudillo» carries heavy historical weight in Spain, linked to the Franco era. Using it is a direct attempt to paint Sánchez as a leader who places himself above democratic institutions, according to El Día.
Feijóo linked his attack to two ongoing judicial cases — one involving Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, and another involving his brother, David Sánchez. The president has called both cases «invented» and «political persecution.» He has refused to call early elections, saying the economy is stable and his mandate is legitimate, according to Diario Córdoba.
The PP Sets a Target of 12 Seats in Catalonia
The congress was also a show of internal strength. Alejandro Fernández was re-elected as president of the PPC with 97.51% of the delegate vote. Feijóo set a clear electoral goal: win 12 deputies from Catalonia in the next general election. That number matches the party's all-time high in the region. Feijóo believes it is the mathematical threshold needed to push Sánchez out of power, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
The PP's Catalan revival gives the strategy some grounding. In the 2024 regional elections, the PPC grew from 3 to 15 seats in the Catalan Parliament. Fernández said the party must «stop the decadence» and become the engine that «leads the change in Spain.» The PPC plans to focus on issues like squatter housing and high taxes — problems that resonate with Catalonia's middle class, according to Levante-EMV.
Junts Voted With PP — But Won't Go All the Way
One of the most striking elements of the June 25 motion was the role of Junts per Catalunya. The Catalan separatist party, which has propped up Sánchez's coalition, voted alongside the PP to demand a confidence vote. Feijóo acknowledged the alliance but noted the irony. He said that Junts «pressing the button to actually call elections would be even better,» according to Información.
Critics from the pro-government side argue Feijóo is all talk. If he truly wants to remove Sánchez, they say, he should table a formal Motion of Censure — a binding no-confidence vote — rather than rely on symbolic defeats. The PP lacks the votes to win such a motion today. Without support from parties like the PNV or Junts, a formal challenge would fail, according to La Provincia.
Feijóo Promises a Full Institutional Cleanup If He Wins
Feijóo used the congress to preview his governing agenda. He pledged a «total cleanup» of Spain's institutions if the PP comes to power. That includes reforming the Public Prosecutor's Office and the CIS, Spain's official polling and statistics body. He framed the promise as a response to what former Supreme Court prosecutor Salvador Viada has called a «feeling of looting» within the democratic system, according to El Periódico Mediterráneo.
The PP's broader pitch in Catalonia is to position itself as the alternative to «both nationalism and socialism.» With voter turnout in Catalonia sitting at just 43.53% in the most recent European elections, the party sees room to mobilize disengaged voters. Feijóo's message was simple: give the PP 12 seats, and Spain changes, according to El Correo Gallego.
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