Ariza's 'Hatred' of the PP: A Key Factor in Vox and Feijóo's Tensions

Santiago Abascal, leader of Vox, does not seem to be in a hurry to close agreements with the Popular Party in Extremadura and Aragon, with the deadline of May 4 for possible investitures.

While the PP insists on urgency, Vox slows down the pace. The possibility of an agreement for the investiture of María Guardiola and Jorge Azcón could be delayed, thus avoiding closeness to the Andalusian campaign. The strategic goal of Vox is to achieve the 'sorpasso', similar to that achieved by other European parties, for which it is essential to maintain a notable distance with the PP without favoring the left.

Internal sources critical of Vox point out that the 'hatred' of Julio Ariza and his circle towards the PP is a key factor in the current confrontation. This feeling has spread to the party's leadership, influencing political decisions. This resentment intensified after the Intereconomía stage and the disappointment with Mariano Rajoy's first government.

The influence of Gabriel Ariza and Kiko Méndez-Monasterio, former Intereconomía executive and Abascal's guru, has also strengthened the position against the PP. This situation is reinforced with the incorporation of disenchanted figures from the PP, both current deputies and MEPs.

Immigration has been configured as a main axis of differentiation from Génova, and at the same time as a backbone element of the rest of the speeches: in housing, health, education and public services, or cultural identity.

Kiko Méndez-Monasterio, former Intereconomía executive and former director of La Gaceta, is Abascal's guru, and as his influence has grown so has the harshness of the discourse against the PP; the so-called 'bunker' within Vox. The party and the Intereconomía media group, now Toro TV, Radio Intereconomía and Radio Libertad, have a relationship similar to that of Fox News with Donald Trump.

The friendship between Ariza and Abascal, which dates back to their time in the Basque PP, and Ariza's participation as a pundit in the chain's programs, have strengthened their relationship.

In addition, the initial media support of Intereconomía was key to Vox's visibility, especially before its national jump in 2018 and 2019. Ariza, with his media experience, and the influence of his circle, continues to guide Vox ideologically. In June, in an intervention in the program Dando caña, he showed the same rejection as Rajoy to the PP of Feijóo.

The public criticism about the existence of a 'bunker' within Vox points to the businesses of the Ariza family and Méndez-Monasterio's consultancy with the party.

These businesses, which include communication services, event organization and publication printing, have raised doubts about the management of public resources. The headquarters of Vox, between 2019 and 2020, was in a premises owned by Gabriel Ariza. Juan García-Gallardo commented: "I believe that Santiago has a debt of gratitude to the Ariza family and to the Méndez-Monasterio family."