Popular Party closes ranks after internal criticism of PM

Barons and ministers from the Popular Party (PP) came out in support of Mariano Rajoy on Thursday, after critical comments about his management of the crisis were made the day before by former Madrid premier and current PP leader in the region, Esperanza Aguirre.

Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón and the head of the Catalan Popular Party, Alicia Sánchez-Camacho, were among those to speak out in defense of the prime minister.

After saying on Wednesday that Rajoy's tax hikes weren't working, Aguirre told the press on Thursday that the PM "was not getting anything wrong," and she liked to "sail against the wind," in reference to her often critical stance of the government.