The economic alternative

The PP Congress has made it clear that there is a different economic policy than the one being pursued by the progressive coalition government. A conservative-liberal alternative based on restoring institutional independence, reducing interventionism, maintaining or reducing tax burdens, and improving public finances. In short, a model that connects better with the business world.

But perhaps the element that inspires the business world the most confidence is the knowledge that Feijóo will try to govern alone. At most, he could reach a legislative pact with Vox, but without a vice president or far-right ministers. In other words, a radical change from the governance practiced by Sánchez over the past seven years, which is the source of the instability in his decisions.

It is about recovering the model of parliamentary democracy in which the winner governs.

Now, in order to pass a law, the government relies on the far-left parties of Sumar, Podemos, Bildu, and ERC, whose demands clash with the liberal proposals of right-wing pro-independence parties like the PNV and Junts.

The inconsistency is so evident that it has led to a large portion of projects being shelved, as has happened with the reduction of the working day. This incongruity in economic policy, stemming from the different sensibilities of the investiture bloc, is what worries and scares away investment and, of course, is what best explains why we have now been without a budget for three years. In some ways, this clarifies why the growth model is based on population growth rather than increased productivity.

Feijóo wants to avoid falling into the same error as Pedro Sánchez by pledging not to form a coalition government but rather a single-party government that would allow him to govern coherently. This is undoubtedly his greatest asset, which will bring him closer to the Moncloa Palace in the next general elections. With this strategy, he is trying to capture the so-called "useful" Conservative vote.

In his opinion, the work needed is in Parliament, forging alliances in the chamber to advance projects. It's about restoring the model of parliamentary democracy in which the winner governs and seeks concrete support. That is, the model that had been practiced until Pedro Sánchez changed the way of governing.

As the PP's strategy appears to be yielding results in the polls, while the coalition government's project weakens, a reaction from Sánchez is to be expected, as is the expectation that the investiture bloc's partners will come to the aid of the Socialist government. Paradoxically, what have been Sánchez's worst days in La Moncloa due to the alleged corruption cases may be his best support.

No one except Podemos wants to let the PSOE bleed dry. This would provoke the biggest crisis for the left since the fall of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's government.