Feijóo Distances Himself from Catalan Business Leaders, Predicts Junts' Decline

The PP leader criticizes Catalonia's political and economic situation and dismisses a no-confidence vote, while controversy grows over Catalan language use during the Pope's visit.

Generic image of a microphone on a podium.
IA

Generic image of a microphone on a podium.

The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has maintained a distant stance with Catalan business leaders during his address at the Cercle d'Economia, criticizing Catalonia's political and economic landscape and ruling out a no-confidence vote against the Spanish government. Concurrently, a controversy over the use of Catalan during Pope Leo XIV's visit to Barcelona has ignited intense debate.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo's appearance at the Cercle d'Economia was characterized by a distant and critical tone regarding Catalonia's political and economic situation. The PP leader avoided making concessions to business figures and dismissed the possibility of a no-confidence vote against Pedro Sánchez's government, suggesting that Junts is in decline and that the PP could naturally replace it for moderate right-wing voters.
According to various reports, Feijóo's speech failed to resonate with the attending business leaders, who had anticipated a discussion on political strategies and regional financing. The PP leader argued that Junts is "committing suicide" and criticized the new financing proposal for Catalonia, deeming it agreed upon without considering other autonomous communities. This stance has drawn discontented comments from attendees, who perceive the PP's influence over the Catalan business community as limited.
In parallel, Pope Leo XIV's visit to Barcelona has sparked significant controversy following the initial decision not to include Catalan in the blessing of the Tower of Jesus at the Sagrada Família. This exclusion has drawn criticism from various entities, political parties, and public figures, who demand the presence of Catalonia's native language in such a solemn event, even invoking the figure of Antoni Gaudí. The pressure has led to a change of plans, with church sources confirming the Pope will include Catalan in the blessing, despite the Archdiocese of Barcelona initially denying a definitive agreement.
The linguistic controversy is part of the papal visit, which has also raised security and logistical concerns for the city, with reinforced controls and traffic disruptions planned around the Sagrada Família and the Eixample. The management of the visit, significantly influenced by the Episcopal Conference, has become a subject of debate, particularly concerning the use of Catalan in official ceremonies.