Spain: Election Campaign in Castile and León Enters Decisive Phase

Political issues in Castile and León have dominated the Spanish public debate ahead of the scheduled regional elections. Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, representing the People's Party (PP), has called on his electorate to fully mobilize, warning that favorable poll results must not lead to abstention from voting. In his speeches, Mañueco emphasized the impossibility of reaching an agreement with the Socialists under the current leadership, which is interpreted as an attempt to polarize the electorate and distance himself from a potential coalition with the Socialist Party. Meanwhile, the PSOE is counting on victory, believing that the title of the most frequently chosen political force is within reach. To this end, the party is calling on the support of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who are to support the candidacy of Carlos Martínez. The electoral system in Castile and León is based on proportional representation in nine provincial constituencies. This region has historically been a stronghold of the center-right, but recent years have seen a rise in the importance of regionalist parties and the Vox party. The Central Electoral Commission (JEC) has rejected protests from smaller parties and regionalists, confirming that only representatives of PP, PSOE, and Vox will participate in the main election debate scheduled for March 5. This decision has sparked outrage from formations such as Podemos and Soria Ya!, which were omitted from the television format prepared by the public broadcaster RTVE. Meanwhile, in Extremadura, local socialist structures are accelerating the leadership renewal process planned for May, which is intended to safeguard against the scenario of elections being repeated among neighbors. Simultaneously, the central government has managed to push through regulations limiting public media revenues, which the opposition calls an attack on freedom of speech. 5 marca — date of the main televised clash of leaders Substantive issues, including European funds, are also an important aspect of the campaign. The PSOE candidate, Carlos Martínez, during a visit to Brussels, appealed for better use of European Social Fund resources to combat the depopulation of the region. From a political strategy perspective, the visit of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the popular head of the Madrid community, who is to support Mañueco during a Sunday rally in Valladolid, will be significant. This is intended to consolidate the conservative wing of the party before the final stage of the campaign. „Con el actual PSOE podremos hablar pero nunca llegar a un acuerdo.” — Alfonso Fernández Mañueco Regional elections in Spain are of great importance for the stability of the central government, as their results are often seen as a test of support for nationwide reforms and can force changes in the strategy of parties sitting in the Cortes.