Feijóo Predicts Victory in Extremadura as First Step for National Political Change
Alberto Núñez Feijóo predicts María Guardiola’s win in Extremadura will spark nationwide political change, while criticising the PSOE government’s corruption and machismo scandals.
- • Feijóo predicts María Guardiola will win Extremadura’s December 21 elections, marking the start of political change in Spain.
- • Feijóo criticizes the current PSOE government for corruption and machismo, calling for national elections.
- • PSOE leaders defend the party’s feminist credentials amid internal scandals.
- • Sara Simón urges Pedro Sánchez to accept responsibility for party scandals and questions the legitimacy of his 2017 re-election.
Key details
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of Spain's Partido Popular, confidently forecasted a win for María Guardiola in the December 21 elections in Extremadura, describing the outcome as the vital ‘first step’ towards transforming national politics. He emphasized that this victory could either enable Extremadura to lead political change in Spain or remain trapped by the current political status quo under PSOE’s government. Feijóo sharply criticized the present administration led by Pedro Sánchez, accusing it of a collapse rooted in corruption and machismo, and called for general elections to restore a politics grounded in dignity, justice, and principled leadership.
María Guardiola echoed these sentiments, deriding the government’s scandals and characterizing “sanchismo” as a crumbling “house of cards.” She highlighted the role of law enforcement and democratic institutions in counteracting governmental corruption and vowed that once Feijóo attains power, they would restore a functional Spain free from political deadlocks. Guardiola also outlined local priorities, including maintaining the Almaraz nuclear plant to safeguard Spain’s energy sovereignty and establishing Extremadura’s first center dedicated to treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ELA).
In response to the unfolding political climate, PSOE leadership figures defended their governance. Francina Armengol, PSIB-PSOE secretary general, affirmed PSOE as a staunchly feminist party, condemning machismo and promising ongoing efforts against such behavior within the party. Defence Minister Margarita Robles urged party members to focus on their duties amid challenges instead of lamenting the situation.
Meanwhile, internal PSOE dissent surfaced as Castilla-La Mancha’s Equality Counselor, Sara Simón, urged Pedro Sánchez to take personal responsibility for corruption and harassment scandals linked to closely allied party figures. She also questioned the legitimacy of Sánchez’s 2017 primary election victory due to irregularities in voter registration, implying deeper organizational issues within PSOE.
Together, these developments underscore a politically charged atmosphere with the Popular Party positioning itself as a principled alternative amid growing PSOE vulnerabilities. Feijóo’s public critiques and calls for elections mark an escalating battle for the political direction of Extremadura and Spain as a whole.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
