The PP opens negotiations with Cs to explore a collaboration formula in the Catalans but rejects going in a coalition

Gamarra and Vázquez lead the conversations, in which the possibility of closing an agreement that includes Catalans and Europeans is being studied

The PP has opened talks with Ciudadanos to explore a collaboration formula before the Catalan elections on May 12, although Alberto Núñez Feijóo's party is clear that it will present itself with its name and acronym, and "without a coalition", according to 'popular' sources have indicated to Europa Press.

In recent weeks, both parties had already begun a path of negotiation - led by Cuca Gamarra (PP) and Adrián Vázquez (CS) - to study how to collaborate before the European elections on June 9, but now those conversations have ended. also extended to Catalan women.

In fact, members of the PP leadership and the Ciudadanos leadership maintained contact this Wednesday afternoon, after the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, announced an early election, according to the same sources.

This Thursday, the permanent Executive of Ciudadanos held a meeting in which they expressed their intention to seek an agreement with the PP to attend the Catalan elections as part of a "constitutionalist block or front", in whose formation, they say, They are already working, but without giving more details.

"The possibilities are open," 'popular' sources have assured, although they already anticipate that the PP will present itself with its initials and name, rejecting the possibility of participating in a coalition.

In these negotiations, the PP is exploring a kind of global pact that includes both the Catalan and European elections in June, betting on integrating Ciudadanos leaders into its lists. "Now or never," warn 'popular' sources.

PP sources believe that Ciudadanos has the possibility of defending its postulates within the Popular Party project. In 'Génova' they also consider that going to the elections together - although the formula is not yet clear - is a way to "claim the constitutionalist victory" that Inés Arrimadas achieved in the Catalan elections of December 21, 2017, according to what they have said. indicated to Europa Press PP sources.

Ciudadanos won those 2017 Catalan elections by achieving its best historical result in this community, 25.34% of the votes, and obtaining 37 seats in the Parliament, surpassing Junts and ERC. However, this historic victory did not help him govern, given that the sum of his seats with those of his hypothetical government partners, PSC (17) and PP (3), did not reach the parliamentary majority, which the pro-independence parties did achieve. .

THE PP, STILL WITHOUT CANDIDATE WAITING FOR DIALOGUE WITH CS

The advance of the Catalans has disrupted the plans of Feijóo, who had planned to call a congress of the Catalan PP after the European elections in June and officially proclaim a candidate, thinking that the Catalans would be in February 2025 or at the end of the year at the earliest.

At this moment, 'Génova' has not confirmed who will be its candidate for the Generalitat and is betting on calm, given that, as they emphasize, they are immersed in negotiations with the Ciudadanos leadership to explore a collaboration formula before the Catalan elections of May and "expand the framework of the party."

Although the PP leadership has not ruled out Alejandro Fernández, other possible candidates also appear in the pools of these months: the PP spokesperson in the European Parliament, Dolors Montserrat; the councilor at Barcelona City Council, Daniel Sirera; the PP deputy and former Cs spokesperson, Nacho Martín Blanco; or the mayor of Castelldefels, Manu Reyes.

In any case, sources from the PP leadership already anticipate that the party's main electoral poster in Catalonia will be Feijóo himself, who will devote himself to the electoral campaign, as he will also do with the Basque elections on April 21 and the European elections in June. .