Spain's opposition leader Feijóo accuses PM Sánchez of 'electoral engineering' via nationality law, proposes winner's bonus in Congress
Alberto Núñez Feijóo has accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of using the 'Law of Grandchildren' to inflate the electoral roll by 2.5 million, while proposing to give the winning party extra seats in Congress and to make the most-voted list govern at municipal level.
Accusations of electoral engineering
In a Monday interview on esRadio, Popular Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of practising "electoral engineering" through the so-called 'Law of Grandchildren', a provision in the 2022 Democratic Memory Law that grants Spanish nationality to descendants of exiles. Feijóo alleged that the government plans to add 2.5 million new voters to the census before the next general election, due by mid‑2027.
It is electoral engineering, an interest in getting new voters. With the current voters the numbers don't add up for him; let's see if by manufacturing voters the numbers add up.
Feijóo claimed that 2.6 million nationality applications are in process, with fewer than 100,000 rejected, and that Buenos Aires alone accounts for 640,000 – which, he said, would make it one of Spain's largest cities by potential voters. He vowed that his party is studying the procedure and may challenge it before the Supreme Court.
- Democratic Memory Law enacted, including the 'Law of Grandchildren' provision allowing descendants of exiles to obtain Spanish nationality.
- Deadline for nationality applications under the provision expires; c.2.5 million applications reportedly filed.
- Feijóo accuses Sánchez of 'electoral engineering' and vows to reform nationality law and electoral rules if elected.
Proposed electoral reforms
The PP leader also outlined two changes to the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (LOREG) that he would pursue if he becomes prime minister. First, he advocated a "bonus of deputies" for the party that wins the general election, similar to the Italian or Greek models, arguing it would deliver more stable governments without requiring deals with smaller formations.
A party that wins the elections must have a bonus of deputies, Italian model, Greek model, to facilitate stability.
Second, he proposed that at municipal level the most‑voted list should always govern, to avoid mayors having to "go out seeking an absolute majority". Feijóo acknowledged that none of these reforms can be enacted during the current legislature without a deal with the Sánchez executive, so they would depend on him obtaining an absolute majority in Congress.
Political context and calls for elections
Feijóo described the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) as "dead and dead with fear" and reiterated his demand for early elections to "restore decency in government and institutions". He criticised the parties propping up Sánchez – including a veiled reference to the Catalan separatist Junts – for "delivering their political capital" and becoming "accomplices" of left‑wing corruption.
The PP leader also signalled that he would promote a new organic law forcing a prime minister to dissolve parliament once a first budget extension is passed, noting that Sánchez has governed with rolled‑over budgets since 2023.
Reform of nationality law pledged
Feijóo promised that if he reaches the Moncloa he will overhaul the nationality law to require additional conditions for a passport, especially for applicants who have never set foot in Spain. He stressed that "nationality is the highest expression of a bond between a person and a nation" and that his party remains "concerned" about the externalisation of application reviews in some countries.
