The leader of the Partido Popular, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, sent a message on Thursday morning, 10 September, ordering a unified communications line for the presidents of his party’s regional governments. According to information from PP headquarters on Calle Génova the instruction is intended to avoid “overreactions” and bring public statements together on the Ceutacrisis and the recent release of documents from various intelligence services.
The move follows sharp remarks within the conservative camp. Earlier in the week, the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayusosaid that, as head of government, she would have severed relations with Morocco . The party leadership rejected this position; PP spokesperson Borja Sémper made clear that the line would be set centrally. A few hours after Feijóo’s appeal to the regional leaders, Ayuso further inflamed the dispute by publicly calling members of the Spanish government “traitors”.
According to party sources, Feijóo’s directive is intended to prevent contradictory messages that could add to tensions in a sensitive foreign and security policy situation. The background is the dispute over events in Ceuta and political debate about the release of intelligence documents. Party headquarters says coordinated communication should underline the opposition’s ability to act and prevent unilateral interventions from undermining its position on international relations, particularly with Morocco.
Ayuso’s proposal to question diplomatic relations in principle remained isolated within the party. Partido Popular spokespeople pointed to the complex consequences such a move would have under international law and for security policy, and to the need to coordinate decisions of this significance with state institutions and European partners. At the same time, the PP leadership continues to criticise the government in Madrid, which it blames for its handling of the crisis in Ceuta.
The dispute is a test of the balance between central party discipline and regional profile-building. While Feijóo is pressing for unity, publicly aired disagreements risk the party losing control of its political narrative. It remains to be seen whether the communications line now imposed will paper over the divisions between party headquarters in Génova and the leadership of the Comunidad de Madrid; for now, however, it sets clear limits on independent public interventions.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).