Castilla y León Election Campaign Sparks Focus on Job Creation and Economic Growth
Castilla y León's 2026 election campaign highlights key employment and economic growth proposals by major parties alongside regional social economy initiatives.
- • PP's Alfonso Fernández Mañueco pledges 8,000 technology jobs and 15% boost in innovation investment.
- • PSOE's Carlos Martínez proposes zero social security for new self-employed and rural tax incentives.
- • Soria ¡Ya! seeks favorable fiscal policies for businesses in their province.
- • Aprol Economía Social aid in Galicia supports cooperative employment with a new 5 million euro budget.
Key details
The 2026 electoral campaign in Castilla y León has officially kicked off, centering heavily on employment and economic development as key issues leading up to the March 15 vote. Alfonso Fernández Mañueco from the People's Party (PP) promises to create 8,000 new technology sector jobs, which currently represent 5.6% of the regional workforce. He also vowed to increase annual investment in innovation and technology by 15%, boosting it to 476 million euros, and to promote 2,600 hectares of high-quality industrial land if re-elected.
PSOE candidate Carlos Martínez launched his campaign with proposals including zero social security contributions for new self-employed workers in their first two years—a figure extending to four years in smaller municipalities—and a differentiated tax system tailored to rural areas. Smaller parties also voiced economic priorities: Soria ¡Ya! emphasized creating a favorable fiscal framework to support self-employed individuals and businesses in their province, advocating for positive discrimination to counteract demographic challenges. Alicia Gallego of UPL underscored the need for local representation and legislation to address territorial needs.
National leaders like Vox's Santiago Abascal criticized a perceived collusion between PP and PSOE, while Podemos's Irene Montero condemned Mañueco's public healthcare policies. Meanwhile, in neighboring Galicia, the Aprol Economía Social program continues to support unemployed people in joining cooperatives, with a new 5 million euro budget aiming to incorporate over 340 individuals this year into social economy initiatives. Since 2017, the Xunta has invested nearly 38 million euros to aid around 7,000 cooperative members, further highlighting the broader regional focus on boosting employment through diverse economic strategies.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
