<h6><strong>Aquí Europa/</strong><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The leader of the People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, used his speech during the European People's Party (EPP) Congress in Valencia to criticize the management of Pedro Sánchez's government in the recent power outage that affected Spain and Portugal, an event of "enormous gravity."</strong></h4> In his speech, Feijóo stated that "the fourth largest economy in the eurozone cannot collapse" and that "everything will be known" regarding the causes of the blackout. He also urged accountability and advocated for an independent investigation with the participation of European authorities to clarify what happened. The PP leader also expressed concern about the lack of clear and verified official information about the incident, emphasizing that the participation of European authorities will be key to uncovering the truth. Feijóo also emphasized that the blackout cannot be treated as an anecdote, as it has revealed vulnerabilities in the energy system that must be corrected to avoid future collapses. Feijóo also thanked the European leaders present at the congress for attending despite the uncertainty generated by the blackout and emphasized that the EPP is committed to prioritizing citizens over partisan interests and that it is essential to put people's needs first in times of crisis. Feijóo also took the opportunity to congratulate Friedrich Merz, who will soon become Chancellor of Germany, highlighting his career in the opposition as an example of useful and thoughtful politics. In this context, Feijóo reiterated the importance of learning from the experiences of other countries to strengthen democracy and public management. In his speech, Feijóo did not mention the situation in the Valencian Community following the DANA that affected the region six months ago, nor the absence of the President of the Valencian Government, Carlos Mazón, at the congress. These issues were addressed by other members of the PP during the event. <h5><strong>Manfred Weber</strong></h5> On another note, German politician Manfred Weber served as President of the European People's Party (EPP) this Tuesday at the congress in Valencia. Furthermore, the appointment of Spanish MEP Dolors Montserrat as the new Secretary General of the EPP was announced, while Esteban González Pons will assume the leadership of the Spanish delegation in Brussels. The congress, which was supposed to celebrate the EPP's electoral success, was marred by adverse circumstances: a massive blackout affected the city on Monday, and the recent floods that caused more than 220 deaths in the region drew criticism of local authorities. Carlos Mazón and Alberto Núñez Feijóo were absent from the opening to address the emergency. During her speech, Weber emphasized the need to modernize energy infrastructure and combat the rise of authoritarianism in Europe. With this re-election, Weber not only strengthens her position within the EPP, but also establishes herself as one of the leading strategists for the political future of the European Union. Her immediate challenge will be to articulate a solid candidacy for the European elections, ensure the group's unity, and stem the advance of forces that challenge the common European project. The battle for the soul of the continent, she warns, "will be decided at the ballot box, but also in our ability to offer real answers to citizens." <h5><strong>Von der Leyen</strong></h5> During her speech at the EPP congress, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the need for the European Union to prepare for an era of more intense geostrategic competition, marked by the unpredictability of US trade policies and the rise of powers like China. He also stressed the importance of maintaining reliability and rules-based standards in international trade, presenting Europe as a stable and fair trading partner in an increasingly volatile global environment. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 people gathered outside the building to protest the presence of EPP leaders and express their discontent with the President of the Valencian Government, Carlos Mazón, for his handling of the October 2024 cold snap, which resulted in 228 deaths. The protesters criticized the support for Mazón by figures such as Von der Leyen and Alberto Núñez Feijóo, viewing his attendance at the congress as endorsement of what they described as negligent management.
