Feijóo, the lukewarm leader splitting Spain's right in two

Feijóo, the lukewarm leader dividing Spain's right

Why would part of the conservative electorate rather abstain or vote for the left than support Alberto Núñez Feijóo? The answer, judging by the most recent debates, is not his supposed pogre or his past in Galicia, but quite the opposite: his calculated moderation. The "lukewarm" label some pin on him is no minor adjective: in today's climate of polarization, the word has become an insurmountable wall between the PP (Spain's main conservative party) and a crucial segment of voters demanding sharper profiles.

The original sin of the pandemic

The main grievance against Feijóo does not stem from his economic policies —hardly disputed— but from his health management as head of the Xunta de Galicia (the regional government of Galicia). While Isabel Díaz Ayuso was positioning herself in Madrid as the champion of freedom against lockdowns, Feijóo imposed curfews and restrictions on the unvaccinated, including banning them from entering bars. "Nobody forced him to do that," people recall, in contrast with the Madrid premier's stance. This episode, together with his attempt to push through 60,000 euro fines for offenders —ultimately struck down as unconstitutional— has stuck in the memory of those who today deny him their vote.

The right-wing voter's dilemma: abstention or the useful vote

The debate reveals a current of thought that, though a minority at the ballot box, is telling: a segment of the conservative electorate believes the differences between the PP and the PSOE (Spain's main socialist party) are minimal, and that voting for Feijóo is almost the same as voting for Pedro Sánchez. "It's like choosing between 5 kicks in the balls or 4," the argument goes. This perception fuels abstention or, worse still, protest votes for parties like Vox or even the PSOE. One circulating analysis suggests the left's strategy is based on "keeping the rival out of power" and "needling the opposition," and that the PP, with its low profile, offers no real counterweight.

The shadow of the recent past: laws and the amnesty

The PP also carries the burden of its votes in Congress. The "only yes means yes" sensual consent law and, above all, its support for chat control —which some saw as a concession to interventionist positions— have eroded the trust of the most libertarian voters. Add to that the approval of the amnesty by the CJEU, a blow that the PP's critics use to point to the party's lack of resolve. "Lies cannot beat reality," comes the retort from the other side, but the reality is that discontent keeps growing.

In short, Feijóo faces an electorate that does not forgive lukewarmness, demands forceful gestures and, when in doubt, prefers not to choose. With these cards in hand, the PP heads into the next elections with a sword of Damocles hanging over it: a base bleeding out at both extremes while it insists on occupying the center. Ironies of politics: being too sensible can be the greatest sin in a country that is in no mood for sensibleness.