This first week of November marks seven months since Alberto Núñez Feijóo took over the leadership of the Popular Party. A man with a sense of State, level-headed, moderate and constitutionalist, they said. Well, the reality is that since then any kind of agreement between the Government and the main opposition party has been impossible. Zero.
In the week of the third budgets of the Government of Spain and the 40th anniversary of Felipe González's absolute majority, we have witnessed the penultimate disappointment of someone who presented himself as an alternative to the obstructionism and denial that characterized the stage of Pablo Casado. Because not facilitating a solution to the crisis of the judiciary, after four years of interim and with a practically closed commitment, admits no other qualification than that of absolute irresponsibility.
Mr. Feijóo, please stop handing out Spanish citizenship cards and comply with the basic rules.
The situation caused by the PP is not just anything: it keeps more than fifty appointments of the judicial leadership blocked and also affects the highest positions of the superior courts of justice of the communities and the provincial courts. "The biggest mess in the entire history of our democracy," in the words of Carlos Lesmes.
It seems that they are not willing to recognize the legitimacy of the polls except when they win. We are witnessing a crisis of leadership and solvency on the part of Núñez Feijóo that transcends the acronyms of the Popular Party and puts democracy itself in trouble.
The draft reform of the Penal Code is nothing new. It is among the PSOE's commitments since the beginning of the legislature. And whoever reforms the Penal Code is the parliamentary majority, not the minority in the opposition. As Felipe González said last weekend: "If someone doesn't like a law, they have the right to change it. What they don't have the right to do is to break it."
What does the PP think is wrong?
It is clear that theirs are only excuses for not complying with the constitutional mandate, causing serious damage to Justice, and one more example of their anti-system boasting. They call themselves patriots, but they are not even capable of voting against all the measures that benefit the majority of citizens. We say it to you once again: the Constitution is complied with every day, from the first to the last of its articles, whether you are in the Government or in the opposition.
In the Canary Islands, unfortunately, the confusing reality of the Popular Party is not very different with a regional president, Manuel Domínguez, whose only contribution so far to the book of sessions of the Parliamentarian has been demagoguery and lack of respect, as when he accuses President Ángel Victor Torres again and again of "taking advantage" and "publicizing" the catastrophes experienced in the Archipelago in recent times. This level of opposition and alternative is really disappointing.
Mr. Domínguez, like his boss in Genoa, should start by taking themselves a little more seriously, being aware of what they represent. Otherwise, there are reasons to doubt their capabilities. It is the moment for a Government up to the task, of course, but also for a reliable and responsible opposition.
Nira Fierro is the Secretary of Organization of the PSOE Canarias and president of the Socialist Parliamentary Group in the Regional Chamber.