topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2119.44 0.28
DAX 6339.94 0.38
IBEX 30 6543 0.13
CAC 40 3047.94 0.32
FTSE 100 5351.53 0.03
AEX 292.76 0.23
DJIA 12454.83 -0.60
Nasdaq 2837.53 -0.07
FTSE MIB 13154.8 0.36
TSX Composite 11576.47 0.09
ASX 4101.2 0.49
Hang seng 18713.41 0.25
Straits Times 2772.75 -0.24
ISEQ 20 500.94 1.55
You are here: Home News Spanish News War of words within Popular Party

Spanish News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


11/04/2008War of words within Popular Party

Madrid mayor comes under attack for criticising Madrid premier’s announcement that she may challenge Rajoy.

11 April 2008

MADRID - The rifts that emerged within the Popular Party as a result of its defeat in the general election on 9 March blew open on Thursday as party heavyweights traded barbs over Madrid regional premier Esperanza Aguirre's suggestion that she may challenge Mariano Rajoy for the party presidency at a convention in June.

Madrid mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, an archrival of Aguirre, led the charge despite being 10,000 kilometres away on a pre-Olympic visit to China.

Speaking to members of the Spanish media in Beijing, Gallardón accused Aguirre of choosing the "worst time" to make public her "indecision" over whether she would run for the party leadership.

"It was inelegant, and showed a serious lack of support for Mariano Rajoy," Gallardón said.

On Monday, on the eve of the first debate in Congress of the new legislature, Aguirre had told a conference packed with the party's top brass that she had not ruled out running for the presidency, but that Rajoy, who was in the audience, would be the "first to know" if she chose to do so.

The comments sparked a flurry of speculation among party members and the media about her intentions ahead of the PP convention in Valencia in June.

Gallardón said yesterday that she stands no chance against Rajoy if she does decide to run. "I believe - and hope - that she will lose," the Madrid mayor said.

In response, Juan Soler, a deputy speaker in the Madrid parliament and an Aguirre ally, accused Gallardón of breaking an unwritten rule not to discuss party politics abroad. He also claimed the mayor was helping China "save face" by visiting the country despite the global outcry over human rights in Tibet.

Aguirre, however, appeared keen to lower the tone. In an apparent effort to play down speculation about her plans, the Madrid premier told reporters in the capital that she is only interested in stimulating debate on "ideas, principles and values," not candidates, ahead of the party convention.

"I have no personal interest in the convention," she said, noting that she feels "enormously proud and satisfied" with her current role in Madrid.

Her apparent backtracking may reflect the widespread opposition voiced by party heavyweights to the prospect of her running. Yesterday, the influential premiers of Valencia and Murcia, Francisco Camps and Ramón Luis Valcárcel, respectively, and the PP's leader in Galicia, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, all joined Gallardón in throwing their weight behind Rajoy.

[El Pais / A. Eatwell / Expatica]


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating



0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

Technology in Spain

Sat phones/internet links

English in Spain

What is the best travel insurance cover to Spain?

American in Spain

U.S. citizens, plan to vote in 2012? Did you know...

Relocation to Spain

thinking of moving to madrid

Jobs in Spain

Job Agencies or how to find work.

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Expatica's Getting Started section will provide practical information on how you can open a bank account, exchange your driving licence, improve your Spanish, and more.

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Here's a guide to an extensive list of groups and clubs in Madrid for expats, from sports groups to social and family gatherings.

Groups and Clubs around Spain

Groups and Clubs around Spain

A brief introduction to our Tax section for Spain, from help with inheritance tax to accounting advice.

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in Spain, from what to ask the experts to opening a Spanish bank account.