Alberto Núñez Feijóo has confirmed that he will eliminate the Ministries of Equality and Housing as independent departments if he reaches the Presidency of the Government after the general elections of 29 November. During his interview with Jordi Wild in The Wild Project, published this Friday, the PP leader has defended a reduction of the Executive to 14 or 15 portfolios. "There will not be a Ministry of Equality. Neither of Housing", he said, although he assured that equality policies will continue under the responsibility of other departments.
The popular candidate has justified the reorganization by his intention to avoid "mastodon" governments and reduce the senior positions. The decision would affect two areas that currently have their own ministries and which have occupied a large part of the political debate during the legislature, especially due to difficulties in accessing housing and the differences between PP and Vox on equality.
The conversation, almost an hour and a half long, is part of the election interviews organized by Wild with the main candidates. Feijóo has answered questions about his possible agreements with Santiago Abascal, immigration, the economy, pensions, and PP corruption cases, as well as addressing his relationship with Isabel Díaz Ayuso and his photographs with Marcial Dorado.
Ministries that he would not cede to Vox
The possibility of forming a coalition government with Vox has taken center stage in the first minutes of the interview. Feijóo has acknowledged that there are portfolios he considers non-negotiable, although he has avoided identifying them so as not to harm a possible negotiation.
"Jordi, yes, I have it", he replied when Wild asked him if there was any untouchable ministry. The PP president has defended that certain responsibilities of the State must remain in the hands of experienced people and has warned about the difficulties of reaching the Ministry of Finance without being prepared to draw up the next budgets.
Despite this, he has assured that he has not yet negotiated the sharing of portfolios with Vox and has recognized that he understands the concern of some citizens about a coalition. He has also admitted differences with Abascal's party regarding the European Union, the autonomous State structure, and gender-based violence, although he considers that the relationship between both formations has improved.
As for political polarization, Feijóo has held Pedro Sánchez responsible for the clash between blocs. "There is a politician in Spain who has lived and continues to live from the fracture", he has stated. Wild has questioned that interpretation and reminded him that hostility is also fueled by other parties.
Feijóo threatens a diplomatic crisis with Morocco and defends toughening deportations
Immigration and the crisis of Ceuta have occupied another of the central blocs. Asked how he would act in the event of a massive entry of migrants, Feijóo has defended strengthening the border and resorting to the Army if Moroccan authorities do not cooperate. "I am going to deploy the army at the border", he assured.
He has also warned that a new crisis enabled by Morocco would cause "an unprecedented crisis with the Kingdom of Morocco" and has defended reviewing trade agreements with Rabat, while also calling for European Union intervention.
On immigration matters, he has announced that he would change the deportation policy and resort to agreements with third countries to manage the return of people in an irregular situation. However, he has defended regularizing those who work without a contract and sanctioning the employers responsible for those hiring arrangements. "I am in favor of legalizing a man who has a work contract 'under the table'", he explained.
Feijóo has also acknowledged that nationality cannot be used as the only criterion for granting social assistance within the European framework. Instead, he has proposed assessing years of registration and contributions in order to access public housing.
Feijóo proposes withdrawing the minimum vital income from those who refuse to work
Social benefits have caused another exchange with Wild. The leader of the PP has argued that beneficiaries of the minimum vital income have "the obligation to take a job" appropriate to their training and abilities. If they repeatedly refuse a job offer, he proposes gradually reducing the benefit "to zero".
In the pensions arena, he has ruled out raising the retirement age. "We are not going to increase the retirement age", he has said, although he has defended making it easier for those who wish to continue working and collecting part of their pension.
He has also proposed guaranteeing 100% of salary during certain medical leaves for serious illnesses, such as cancer, and has announced a new status for self-employed workers.
He doesn’t know if he would have asked for Rajoy’s resignation over Gürtel
The corruption cases of the PP have led Wild to ask Feijóo about the political responsibility of Mariano Rajoy during the Gürtel case. The senior figure of the Popular Party has avoided committing to an answer. "Well, I don’t know", he replied, before explaining that he would need to examine the circumstances.
Another moment from the interview came when addressing his photographs with Marcial Dorado. Feijóo has defended that he met the businessman before he was investigated for drug trafficking and has recalled that he already gave explanations about that relationship. "I am responsible for my own biography", he stated, insisting that he decided to end the link when he learned of the existence of a judicial proceeding for smuggling.
Wild has also asked him for explanations after Feijóo asked whether the primaries of Pedro Sánchez were financed with money coming from prostitution. When the interviewer asked him whether he had evidence, the Popular Party leader clarified that he was not making an accusation. "No, no, it’s a question", he replied.
"I don’t know English, but I know how to govern"
In the final stretch, Feijóo acknowledged that he does not master English, although he defended his management experience. "I don’t know English, but I know how to govern", he said, before admitting that "I haven’t made any effort on this" and asserting the use of official interpreters in international negotiations.
He has also denied an internal war with Isabel Díaz Ayuso, whom he has defined as "an asset of my party", despite acknowledging that both have different political styles.