Alberto Núñez Feijóo has accused the Spanish government of politically exploiting the death of the woman who became known as “Maricarmen”. Before the Junta Directiva Nacional of the Partido Popular in Madrid on 8 October 2026, the PP leader warned of “emotional manipulation” of citizens and called on his party to unite ahead of the election on 29 November 2026 up.
Feijóo linked his criticism to the debate that has continued for days over evictions. The death of “Maricarmen” had previously become a nationwide symbol in the dispute over housing shortages and political responsibility. The PP leader did not mention the deceased woman’s name throughout his speech, but repeatedly referred to the public controversy and rejected what he saw as campaign-driven political staging. At the same time, he linked his accusations to substantive criticism of the government’s housing and eviction policies.
Several Spanish media outlets and the PP confirmed the timing and content of the speech. According to their accounts, Feijóo’s message had two strands: first, to reject what he claimed was the exploitation of the case by his opponents; second, to call for internal discipline and unity during the election campaign. The party event took place at the party headquarters on Calle Génova in Madrid.
Representatives of the left had described the incident in recent days as a political failure by the executive. Feijóo’s response is intensifying polarisation during the ongoing election campaign and is likely to fuel further media debate about evictions. Legal assessments of the death and any possible responsibility remain matters for the competent authorities; public statements and investigations are under way.
With 29 November 2026 in view, the Partido Popular is thus clearly positioning itself against the governing coalition. It remains to be seen whether the dispute over the “Maricarmen” case will have a lasting impact on the election campaign agenda. What is clear is that Feijóo is using the conflict to demand loyalty from his own ranks and put housing and social hardship more firmly in the spotlight, while also warning against emotionally charged rhetoric.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).