The PP barons challenge Sánchez and threaten to cancel the conference of presidents.

The conference of presidents, convened for this Friday in Barcelona, ​​appears doomed to failure. The People's Party (PP) stated yesterday that it would endorse a proposal from the regions it governs if the agenda is not agreed upon, believing that the government cannot unilaterally impose its agenda in this forum. The Popular Party (PP) autonomous regions plan to appeal to the courts if their requests for debate are not included, considering this would be "illegal."

The conference of presidents was convened by Pedro Sánchez on May 14, less than five months after it met in Santander. The topics proposed by the Executive are housing, vocational training, and university education. The agenda, which has yet to be finalized, initially fails to convince the PP barons, who, among other issues, want to discuss regional financing, energy—in the wake of the recent blackout—and healthcare.

The political climate of recent weeks has also been detrimental to holding a peaceful meeting two days before the demonstration called by the People's Party (PP) against Sánchez in Madrid.

We'll have to wait and see what the response is to the letter that the PP councilors sent to the government yesterday demanding that their demands be included on the agenda. But PP spokesperson Borja Sémper already indicated that he would welcome the PP leaders standing up to the government, which they accuse of "slamming the door" by imposing their "wall" on the interpretation of the regulations. "The responsibility will be theirs, because they blow up the rules of the game and change them at will with crooked use," he stated.

The Popular Party presidents say that the regulations allow for the introduction of topics if a majority requests it.

It was Andalusia's Minister of the Presidency, Antonio Sanz, who announced on Canal Sur the intention of regions governed by the People's Party (PP) to challenge the conference in court if their demands are not met. The PP believes that their autonomous communities constitute the majority at this official summit, so an agenda cannot be imposed without their opinions being heard. In this reflection, they rely on an article in the regulations that states that new topics can be included if there is a majority. Andalusia also cited the need to address the "railway chaos."

The Barcelona meeting is scheduled to include a breakfast with the King before the meeting begins at the Pedralbes Palace. According to PP sources, the idea of ​​snubbing Felipe VI is not being conveyed, but rather it would be limited to the meeting between the Prime Minister and the regional governments. However, the PP warns that the snub to the King is being committed by the Executive by not complying with the regulations.

In the next three days, it will therefore be necessary to decide whether the government will heed the PP's requests and what decision each autonomous region will take regarding assistance to Barcelona.

From Catalonia, the secretary general of the People's Party (PP), Santi Rodríguez, also pointed out that holding a summit that only discusses matters of interest to the government makes no sense. At a time when the PSOE and ERC are negotiating individual financing, the PP leader said, it is logical for the conference of regional presidents to address the debate on regional financing. The PP does not want to give Sánchez a victory, as it believes he is hiding behind this summit at a moment of weakness.