Pablo Casado says goodbye to Parliament and the conservative leadership in Spain

USPA NEWS - The until now leader of the opposition to the socialist Government of Spain, the conservative politician Pablo Casado, said goodbye to Parliament on Wednesday in the traditional control session to the Government. The agenda included a question from Casado to the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, but the conservative leader changed it to a brief farewell speech, after which he left the chamber to the applause of the parliamentary group, which 24 hours earlier had withdrawn him their support.

After a convulsive Tuesday, in which the number 2 of the Popular Party, Teodoro García Egea, resigned; the party's national spokesman, José Luis Martínez Almeida, and several leaders of the conservative party, as a result of the political earthquake caused by the alleged espionage on the president of the regional government of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, this Wednesday the question that the still President of the Popular Party was going to formulate the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, was expected. But, instead of the programmed question, Pablo Casado gave a brief speech in which "I understand politics from the defense of the noblest principles and values, respect for opponents and dedication to colleagues."

"Everything to serve Spain and the cause of freedom because that is the future that our children deserve and that we must all build together," added the leader of the conservative opposition until now. “Our responsibility was to widen the space of centrality so that the Popular Party and the Socialist Party could win in it, without pacts with those who do not believe in Spain or those who attacked it. That has always been the trajectory of the Popular Party,” he concluded.

After his speech, Casado left the chamber, followed by the Popular Party's deputy secretary of communication, Pablo Montesinos, and two other deputies. The conservative parliamentary group in full, standing up, applauded the intervention of its until now leader, while the rest of the groups kept a respectful silence. Only some extremist deputies made their voices heard to express their opposition to the president of the conservative party.

In his response to Pablo Casado, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, wished him "the best personally." The Prime Minister stated that “we do not contemplate advancing the elections. This is a Government with a sense of State that puts the general interest first. We want to gain the confidence of the citizens based on our merit and not on the weakness of our opponents. This is how we understand democratic patriotism,” he concluded.

Several members of the Spanish socialist Government and leaders of almost all the parties with parliamentary representation also conveyed to Pablo Casado their wishes for "the best" for him and his family in the new stage he faces.

End of cycle

Pablo Casado could resign after the National Council of Directors of the Popular Party that will be held next Monday. At that meeting, an Extraordinary Congress will be convened in charge of electing a new leadership for the conservative party. The president of the regional government of Galicia, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, is emerging as the probable new president of the Popular Party. Núñez Feijóo left the door open for his nomination after the meeting of the Popular Party Steering Committee that was held on Monday, February 21. Supporter of the resignation of Pablo Casado and of the celebration of an Extraordinary Congress that marks the new direction of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo is endorsed by four absolute majorities in Galicia and a popularity that, in recent months, has been increasing.