Alejandro Fernández is in a strong position to surpass Alícia Sánchez-Camacho's tenure as the longest-serving leader of the Catalan PP. While his direct political influence on regional government actions is limited, his continuation as party leader appears secure, unlike previous popular presidents who had a more significant impact.
The upcoming party congress this Saturday will define the new general secretary, with Santi Rodríguez as a potential successor. Recent days have been marked by internal debates regarding the leadership structure, including possible changes to the parliamentary spokesperson. Fernández's initial proposal, with Lorena Roldán as the new spokesperson, faced resistance, opening the door to alternatives such as David Solé as general secretary and Juan Fernández retaining the spokesperson role.
Fernández's recent trajectory has been characterized by a standoff with the national leadership, particularly with Alberto Núñez Feijóo, rejecting pacts with Junts and demanding autonomy for the Catalan PP. Despite these tensions, Feijóo eventually presented him as the candidate for the Catalan elections, and in recent months, relations have eased, facilitating his continued leadership of the party.
The Catalan PP's leadership has seen numerous departures since Fernández's appointment in 2018. Changes in the executive committee, dismissals, and resignations have shaped the party's composition. The incorporation of Santi Rodríguez as general secretary after the 2021 elections aimed to restore order, although significant departures have also occurred, such as that of Marcos Sánchez due to an invoicing scandal.
