Feijóo escalates attack on Spain's 'ley de nietos', calling it 'social engineering' with no 'innocent objectives'

What is the 'ley de nietos'?

The provision, part of the 2022 Democratic Memory Law, allows descendants of Spaniards exiled during the Civil War and Francoist repression to obtain Spanish nationality. It also covers children born abroad to Spanish women who lost citizenship by marrying foreigners before 1978, and adult children of those who gained nationality under the 2007 historical memory law. The application window, originally two years, was extended by one year and closed in October 2025, though processing continues. As of 31 March 2026, the Ministry of Territorial Policy reported 2.4 million applications, 544,722 approvals, and 306,000 registered citizens.

Feijóo's escalating accusations

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the opposition People's Party, began the week accusing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of "ingeniería electoral" (electoral engineering) to "fabricate voters" ahead of the 2027 general elections. By Friday, speaking at a PP forum in Castellón, he had shifted to the term "ingeniería social" (social engineering), asserting it "has no innocent objectives." Feijóo combined figures from the nationality law, a separate migrant regularization process, and the increase in foreign-born residents since 2018 to claim Spain faces an influx of nearly 8 million people. He warned the state lacks the housing, healthcare, and public services to absorb such a change.

This social engineering has no innocent objectives.

We cannot manage it, we do not have the financial capacity or adequate resources.

Internal party tensions and contradictions

Feijóo's rhetoric has caused unease within the PP. Several party figures note that the controversy distracts from the government's corruption scandals and exposes inconsistencies: Feijóo previously supported extending nationality to descendants of exiles. While the party officially denies alleging electoral fraud, Feijóo on Friday accused the government of "altering the electoral census." Spokesperson Borja Sémper had earlier stated the party does not question the cleanliness of the process, yet the leader's words kept the issue alive. Madrid president Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Vox have pushed harder, asking whether the government is "trying to nationalize socialists."

European context

Spain is not alone in offering nationality to descendants of those who lost citizenship for political, racial, or religious reasons. Germany and Austria have similar provisions for victims of the Nazi regime. Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Belgium also have laws addressing historical injustices. The Spanish law, however, has become a partisan flashpoint, with the PP's current stance at odds with its earlier position and with the broader European practice.

Parliamentary origins and modifications

The provision passed in July 2022 with support from PSOE, Podemos, and several regional parties, while PP, Vox, and others voted against. The PP's opposition at the time focused on ideological objections and the pact with EH Bildu, not electoral concerns. A PP amendment to exclude sexual orientation as a ground for nationality was withdrawn under internal pressure. Later, the government issued an instruction expanding eligibility in ways similar to a Ciudadanos proposal that both PP and PSOE had voted down, bypassing parliament.