The president of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, promised this Saturday that he will promote a "serene but forceful change" in Spain if he manages to govern after the general elections on November 29, and assured that he will lead the country "with the truth first", in addition to committing that he will "never" leave Spaniards "stranded" when problems arise.
Feijóo made these statements in his first pre-campaign event, held at the Ifema de Madrid venue, in a meeting presided over by the slogan 'Finally', with which the popular party wanted to symbolize the early election.
The leader of the PP has defended his profile as a manager and has stressed that, after 30 years of public management, he can still "look people in the eyes". In that context, he underlined: "I don't come from saunas or sewers, I come from management, from presenting and balancing budgets, from sustaining public services, from showing my face in good times and especially in difficult ones."
"National reconstruction" and defense of institutions
During his speech, Alberto Núñez Feijóo assured that he knows "what it is to govern and what it costs", and stated that he is aware of what Spaniards expect from him. As he pointed out, his proposal is not limited to a "simple alternation", but rather proposes a project of "national reconstruction" to bring about a "serene, but forceful change".
The president of the PP insisted that "Spain needs direction", "to review the rules", "to recover the counterweights" and "to give Spaniards back a certainty that the State is at the service of all". In that vein, he added that the country needs "to open a new era" and promised that his party will make it possible.
Feijóo also defended the need to "reconstruct our institutions" so that "no one ever again thinks that power is above the rules". "No one, and not us either. Let it be clear, power is not above the rules in any democracy, no matter who it affects," he remarked.
Call to voters of all backgrounds
In another part of his speech, the popular leader said that he wants to speak "with every Spaniard": "with those who have always voted for us, those who have stopped doing so, and those who have never voted for us but today want a change. To them, above all, we must listen."
Feijóo appealed to the "collective responsibility" that, in his opinion, the PP has at this moment, and promised to reciprocate that support with a tone of listening and explanation. "I am going to be the candidate you believe in, I am going to listen and I am going to explain and I am going to fight all battles. We are not going to let anything pass. I am going to be the president that Spain is waiting for," he affirmed.
Next, he acknowledged that "he is not perfect", and added: "I have flaws and I make mistakes, like everyone else, and there will be people dedicated to finding fault." Immediately afterwards, he lashed out at the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, whom he reproached for the political and judicial situation of his environment.
Criticism of Pedro Sánchez and demand for explanations
Feijóo launched a direct criticism at the head of the Executive by stating: "I wish they had controlled so well the one who chose two corrupt people as his right hand and is surrounded by 120 defendants who stole from Spaniards with both hands."
Furthermore, he insisted that, if he has the opportunity to appoint the next Council of Ministers, he will choose people of proven "honesty". At that point, he took the opportunity to once again demand that Pedro Sánchez clarify "who in the PSOE gave the order to get rid of the judge investigating" the president's brother.
"Who in the governing party gave the order to hire hitmen to get rid of a problem? It is a democratic question. He has an obligation to answer. He can try not to answer, but I will keep asking him every day until he answers," said the president of the PP, before warning that Sánchez will not be able to "flee" because, he said, it will be the Spaniards who will "throw him out".
