Who is Marta Varela, the strategist who prepared Feijóo for the debate with Pedro Sánchez

In the minutes before the start of the electoral debate last Monday night at Atresmedia, the production showed images of the set without sound. During those moments, the socialist candidate could be seen on that stage, Pedro Sanchezstanding, pacing like a boxer who recognizes the boxing ring and shakes his shoulders before moving on to the assault.

Meanwhile, his opponent, the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, remained seated, like someone waiting tensely for the fight leaning against a corner of the ring. Feijóo was going through papers and listening to the whispers of a woman with short hair, a cream-colored suit jacket, a sleeveless blouse, and round glasses: the hitherto unknown Marta Varela Pazos.

In 2011, the ‘right hand’ of the leader of the Popular Party, at the age of 26, began working as an adviser to Feijóo and, since then, they have always been on the same team. Varela went from adviser to head of communication in 2013 and general director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Xunta in 2020.

Although she is a discreet woman with no activity on social networks, Varela is at any act chaired by the PP candidate for the presidency of the Government. Perhaps the exuberance of her spotlights does not go with her, but the current chief of staff is always there. With the behavior of a lynx, in which she observes every subtle movement of her prey, Valera carefully takes care of any detail that could harm the Galician politician.

Feijóo delegates functions of maximum responsibility to her. Although she is the one in charge of his speeches, she is also the one in charge of managing his schedule, as well as the current head of his cabinet. We still have to wait to find out the results of the general elections on July 23, but for Marta Varela it seems that there is already a clear victory. Although the cameras were not pointing at her, Feijóo’s right hand was the other winner, in silence, of the only face face among the candidates for the presidency of the Government.