Feijóo seeks a Catalan Piqué to bridge gaps with Barcelona

The leader of the PP wants a prestigious interlocutor in Catalan civil society to improve relations with Catalonia ahead of potential general elections and state governance.

The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has been working for months to find a prominent figure in Catalan civil society to act as an interlocutor with the economic and political elites of Catalonia. The information, reported by elmundo.es, suggests that the goal is to replicate the move that José María Aznar attempted in 1996 with the recruitment of Josep Piqué and Anna Birulés as ministers, both endorsed by Foment del Treball and by the then president of the Generalitat, Jordi Pujol.

Party sources acknowledge that the task is not easy. Names that have been mentioned in discussions, such as Javier Faus, Aurora Catà, Pau Relat, or Helena Guardans, do not seem likely to end up in the Council of Ministers for various reasons. The main obstacle is the long-standing stigma of the PP in Catalan public opinion, where the left and nationalism have cultivated the image of a hostile party for years, complicating the search for someone outside of politics willing to take on the wear and tear.

The historical precedent does not inspire optimism. Aznar came to power in 1996 with a regeneration agenda and the intention to normalise relations with the Barcelona bourgeoisie and conservative Catalanism. However, the Majestic Pact and Pujol's refusal to integrate CiU into the central government hampered the strategy. Feijóo, according to the same sources, is aware that the mistake was not Piqué, but trusting Pujol, and does not want to repeat it.

Electorally, Catalonia will once again be decisive. In the last general elections, 40 of the 48 Catalan deputies supported the investiture of Pedro Sánchez. Ahead of the 29-N, the PP needs to reduce that gap to have a chance of governing. Moreover, Catalonia could become a focal point for street protests against a potential Feijóo government, with an alliance between the left and nationalism under the slogan of stopping a "fascist government".

The disturbances last Monday in Barcelona, following a housing protest, are a warning of what could be repeated. For Feijóo, having allies in Catalan civil society seems essential if he wants to prevent the streets and Catalan institutions from blocking government action. The search for his particular Piqué remains open.