Feijóo considers calling the PP congress in July and analyzes the pros and cons.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo is thoroughly evaluating and holding consultations with key PP leaders regarding the convening of the party congress next July, with the aim of preparing and relaunching the party and its leadership in the final stretch of the legislature. His leadership is not in doubt, and holding the conclave would not pose any problems in this regard. However, these days of consultations and the exchange of proposals have brought potentially divisive debates to the table. These debates relate to internal balances and primaries, relations with Vox, and the demands of the Catholic sector regarding euthanasia and abortion, according to PP sources consulted.

Feijóo and his closest circle are analyzing the scenarios to assess the consequences of holding a congress, which always entails a review of the internal structure and a fine-tuning of the ideology. From the headquarters on Génova Street, two years after the general elections and entering the second cycle, it is considered on paper a decisive move. But at the same time, they want to avoid internal confrontations at a time perceived as a moment of weakness for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Divisions or differing ideological perspectives emerge in these exchanges, both regarding balance and organizational functioning, as well as ideological debate. In this chapter, sources consulted within the PP indicate that a front is opening up regarding the definition of relations with Vox, with one part of the party seeking to sever ties and another more inclined to remain open. Meanwhile, Feijóo would prefer to remain on a more undefined footing, but a congress always requires defining positions.

Genoa believes that two years after June 23, the party can be relaunched, but without weakening it.

Congresses serve to redefine ideologies, and in regard to political presentations, potential ideological differences arise regarding the right to abortion and euthanasia, and there are already indications of movements from the Catholic sector to present amendments on both issues. These are delicate issues for the PP, which the party's current leadership would not want to enter into and which have always generated tensions within the party, with a broad and diverse spectrum of voters and, therefore, with ideological nuances.

Debates about the party's internal functioning and the balance between different sectors are also beginning to unfold. In response to reports suggesting a replacement for Cuca Gamarra as the PP's general secretary, the president of the Andalusian regional government, Juanma Moreno, reportedly expressed his reservations. Moreno, like Gamarra, supported Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría at the congress, which she lost to Pablo Casado in 2018. And this sector would not want to find itself displaced between the strength of the "Galician clan" in Génova and the influence of the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. Feijóo was in Córdoba on Friday at an event commemorating Europe Day and spent the day with Juanma Moreno.

In this regard, and continuing with internal discussions to prefigure the congress design, PP sources indicate that Génova would like to eliminate the holding of primaries from the bylaws. This is another issue that would spark controversy, especially in the Madrid sector of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who supports this measure and would therefore present an amendment if the leadership opts for this move. It's not that Ayuso wants to push the primaries button now, but it is considered a democratic tool in the bylaws that must be preserved for future debates.

Read also The PP is trying to combine the centrist line of its European family and its relationship with Vox. Julio Hurtado

Relations with the far right can be divisive as there are supporters of breaking them off.

Feijóo is therefore strongly considering holding the congress in July. There are ideas circulating and on the table, but the question is whether he will take the final step of convening the conclave, where he always puts a strong emphasis on the debates. There are doubts because until now, he has avoided focusing on internal issues and has instead centered his strategy on the erosion of Pedro Sánchez. The leadership wants a congress to move forward, not weaken itself.