Spain’s opposition leader in hot water amid party infighting

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) – Pablo Casado, leader of the Popular Party, delivered what may be his last speech in Spanish parliament on Wednesday, as fierce infighting has left his party in disarray.

“I understand politics … from the respect towards adversaries and dedication to colleagues. Everything is to serve Spain and the cause of freedom,” Casado told lawmakers in what sounded like a farewell speech.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wished him “the best” for his personal life, and Casado walked out of the parliament to a round of applause.

This is the culmination of days of open war in Spain’s main opposition party.

The crisis erupted last week when Isabel Ayuso, Madrid's president, and the party’s rising star, publicly accused the Popular Party leadership of hiring a private detective to spy on her.

Casado and party spokesperson Teodoro Garcia Egea denied the allegations, but announced that Ayuso would be disciplined and investigated for corruption. They said Ayuso’s brother took home up to €300,000 ($340,000) worth of commissions for helping the Madrid government buy masks at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

In response, Ayuso admitted that her brother was only paid €55,580 ($63,000) to help secure masks. She said the dealings were not illegal and blamed her fellow politicians for stabbing her in the back.

On Tuesday, Spain’s anti-corruption agency opened an investigation into the contract.

As the party was torn apart by the two leading figures, people began to pick sides. The outpouring of public support for Ayuso was much stronger, despite the corruption allegations, and thousands poured out onto the streets of Madrid to support her.

Criticism of Casado also came from inside of the party. He eventually backtracked on the disciplinary procedure against Ayuso as several key figures called for his resignation.

After speaking with other party leaders on Tuesday, he announced that the Popular Party will hold an extraordinary congress within the coming week, where a new leader could be elected.

Neither Ayuso nor Casado have said they are stepping forward to be elected as Popular Party leader. The moderate Galician Premier Nunez Feijoo appears to be the frontrunner.

This crisis unfolds as the Popular Party struggles to improve its disappointing electoral results. In the recent elections in Castile-Leon, it failed in its attempt to form a majority government and may have to rule alongside the far-right party Vox.

Recent polls are even suggesting that Vox is gaining ground even quicker amid the drama, and is just a few percentage points short of becoming the second-most popular party in Spain.