Ayuso, Feijóo: with hoaxes and with the 'everything against Sánchez' one cannot govern Madrid, much less be the alternative for Spain

It cannot be. Not everything goes in politics.

We all agree that the opposition must oppose. It is the function of the Partido Popular, VOX, and even Junts to scrutinize Pedro Sánchez's Government. That is their responsibility. However, there are exceptional moments, like those we are experiencing this summer with the tragic wave of fires, which are leaving devastating consequences. In such situations, the opposition must prioritize the general interest and collaborate with the Government of Spain to protect citizens.

When the country faces an emergency of this magnitude, a true state pact is needed. And, in that context, the Partido Popular, as the main opposition force and as the party that claims to have won the 2023 general elections, should assume a leadership role. There are circumstances in which it is time to set aside political confrontation and act with a sense of state. That is also part of the opposition's work: to scrutinize the Government when appropriate, but to collaborate when the situation demands it.

The truth is that a state pact on this matter would not only be desirable, but it should have been reached years ago. It is inconceivable that, one more summer, we are debating exactly the same problems: the need to clear forests to prevent fires, improve coordination between autonomous communities and the central Government, or strengthen cooperation between emergency services and the State Security Forces and Corps.

Nor is it reasonable that there is still no consensus on such clear scientific evidence as climate change. There are issues that should remain outside the left-right divide. Recognizing the existence of climate change is an objective fact, as evident as saying that my name is Hugo Pereira.
That is why statements like those of Esther Muñoz, spokesperson for the Partido Popular in Congress, are difficult to understand when she states: "That the climate changes is something that has happened throughout the history of humanity and the Earth."

It is true. The climate has always changed. You are right about that. What you omit is that the current climate change has completely different characteristics: it is accelerated by human action. That is the real problem. The scientific community has been warning for decades that greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity are intensifying global warming and, with it, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme phenomena.

Therefore, yes, climate change exacerbates forest fires. High temperatures, prolonged droughts, and reduced humidity turn forests into a much more favorable fuel for fire to spread more quickly and violently. Denying this reality does not help solve the problem.

Precisely for this reason, a state pact is more necessary than ever. Not just now; it should have been promoted a long time ago. I understand that it is not politically profitable for the Popular Party to support Pedro Sánchez's government or give it a lifeline. But there are times when the general interest must be placed above partisan strategy.

Similarly, the Government also has responsibilities. If it really wants to reach a state pact, it must be willing to negotiate. To pact implies to yield, to listen, and to incorporate some of the opposition's proposals.

For its part, the Popular Party must abandon permanent confrontation and, above all, avoid resorting to hoaxes or disinformation as a political tool. An alternative government cannot be built solely on "everything against Sánchez." That strategy does not strengthen institutions or offer solutions to citizens.

This makes it very difficult for Isabel Díaz Ayuso to project herself as a national reference and also makes it difficult for Alberto Núñez Feijóo to consolidate himself as a credible alternative to govern Spain.