Sánchez urges Feijóo to accept the 29 November result at Palma rally

Campaign opens in La Rioja

Pedro Sánchez, the PSOE candidate seeking re-election, opened the campaign on Friday, 13 November, with a rally in Arnedo, La Rioja. He set his government and its ministers against what he described as the shortcomings of the leaders of the PP and Vox. He drew on an interview that PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo gave to the YouTuber Jordi Wild, in which Feijóo admitted he does not speak English and had made no effort to learn it. Feijóo accepted that a prime minister in 2026 should be able to speak the language, but said the country's problems had mattered more to him. He defended himself with this line:

“I don't know English, but I know how to govern, and I don't insult in any language.”

Palma rally on 14 November

On Saturday, 14 November, Sánchez addressed a rally at the Son Fusteret venue in Palma, which ABC reported as attended by more than 3,000 people. Francina Armengol, president of the Congress of Deputies and leader of the Balearic socialists, spoke before him and praised his record. Sánchez thanked Armengol for keeping her calm while, in his words, insults filled the chamber. He set what he called "good politics" against the "bad education" of the right and far right. He listed the minimum wage increase, a state pact against gender violence and the revaluation of pensions among the government's achievements. He also asked for the vote of pro-European citizens and linked Feijóo and Abascal to Donald Trump, Javier Milei and Jair Bolsonaro.

Grades for the opposition

Sánchez graded Feijóo in school subjects, saying he fails English, chemistry and economics. For chemistry he cited an event where Feijóo confused hydrogen with nitrogen. For economics he cited a mix-up between the risk premium and the interest rate. He said he hoped Feijóo would pass civic education and accept the result, and predicted that the PSOE would win and govern for four more years.

“Although he fails English and economics, I hope Feijóo passes civic education and accepts the election result, because the PSOE will win and govern for four more years.”

Abascal and the vice presidency

Sánchez also turned on Santiago Abascal, saying Abascal claims to represent the Spain that gets up early but in fact represents an ultra who shrinks. He said Abascal showed little knowledge of the public pension system during his appearance on David Broncano's programme La Revuelta. He added that the 29 November vote would also decide who becomes vice president, Abascal or the socialist Carlos Cuerpo, whom he said knows economics and several languages.

“They are two of a kind: one is not president because he does not want to be, and the other is not vice president because he does not know how.”

Mobilisation and the 29 November vote

Sánchez asked left-wing voters for a mass mobilisation and said he was convinced he would keep leading the government. He cited 22.6 million Social Security affiliates and said the economy grows at three times the European average, according to ABC. He challenged the right and far right to ask employers for higher average wages. He accused Feijóo and Abascal of offering only cuts and chainsaw policies. He also said Abascal avoids television programmes where he cannot control the audience, and criticised him for not taking a position on Franco. The general election takes place on 29 November.