The Spanish opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has sought support in his home region Galicia for the general election on 29 November. At a rally in Santiago de Compostela the leader of the conservative People’s Party on 14 November highlighted his experience as Galicia’s former regional president and asked for votes to enter the seat of government, Moncloa in Madrid.
Addressing supporters, Feijóo portrayed the journey from Galicia to the capital as a political one. He said Monte Pío, the official residence of the Galician regional government, was 600 kilometres and 15 days from the Moncloa Palace. He asked those present to help him complete the journey. The deadline referred to election day, not to a change of government that had already been decided.
The event took place at the multi-purpose venue Fontes do Sar According to the People’s Party, around 8,000 people attended. Feijóo was accompanied, among others, by the Galician regional president Alfonso Rueda. Feijóo himself had led the regional government for around 13 years before taking over as leader of the party at Spanish level in 2022.
The candidate presented his time in Galicia as evidence of his experience in government. Spain needed experience, he said, and he had gained it in Galicia. At the same time, he sharply attacked his political opponents. His accusations are part of campaign rhetoric and are not a finding of criminal conduct.
Another topic was housing policy. Feijóo announced that, under a government led by him, it would come under a deputy head of government. He also set a target of building one million homes. He had previously said he did not want a standalone housing ministry in his cabinet. These announcements apply in the event that he is able to form a government after the election.
Feijóo also promised to have the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reviewed. In Santiago, he said his first cabinet meeting would begin such a review. He also announced that he would not tolerate corruption and would grant no pardons to corrupt people.
Both chambers of the Spanish parliament will be elected on 29 November. The official election notice sets the campaign period from 13 to 27 November. Feijóo’s appearance in Santiago thus fell on the second day of the campaign.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).