Galician nationalist leader and economist Xosé Manuel Beiras dies at 90 in Brión

Passing in Brión

Galician politician, economist, and writer Xosé Manuel Beiras Torrado died during the early hours of Thursday, 8 October 2026, at his home in A Reboraina, in the municipality of Brión. He was 90 years old at the time of his passing. Sources close to the politician confirmed the death to news agencies early on Thursday morning. Following the announcement, his family confirmed that a public viewing would take place at the Museo do Pobo Galego in Santiago de Compostela. The dedicated room at the museum will open to the public at 12:00 on Friday, 9 October 2026, giving citizens an opportunity to offer their final tributes.

Leadership of the nationalist movement

Born in Santiago de Compostela in April 1936, Beiras grew up in a family connected to the pre-war Galicianist movement. In 1963, during the Francoist dictatorship, he participated in the clandestine foundation of the Partido Socialista Galego (PSG). He later spent nearly two decades as the national spokesperson for the Bloque Nacionalista Galego (BNG), turning the coalition into a broad electoral movement. Under his guidance, the BNG advanced from a single parliamentary seat to 18 seats during the 1990s, overtaking the regional Socialist Party to become the second-largest political force in the Galician Parliament. Throughout his parliamentary career, he became known for demonstrative gestures, including an incident where he removed his shoe and slammed it against his bench.

Coalition building and economic academia

Inside the nationalist movement, Beiras embodied a socialist stance in tension with the Marxist-Leninist orthodoxy of the Unión do Pobo Galego (UPG). In 2012, after separating from the BNG, he led the Alternativa Galega de Esquerda (AGE) coalition into the regional elections, securing parliamentary representation alongside Spanish left-wing groups such as Esquerda Unida and Podemos. He subsequently founded the party Anova-Irmandade Nacionalista, becoming an ideological reference for Podemos founder Pablo Iglesias. When internal divisions within the Mareas coalitions weakened Anova, Beiras gradually orchestrated a reconciliation with the BNG leadership. Alongside his political career, he was a professor of Economic Structure at the University of Santiago de Compostela and published the influential 1972 economic essay O atraso económico de Galicia.

Regional reactions and final appearances

Political leaders across Galicia responded to his passing with tributes addressing his intellectual and political impact. Alfonso Rueda, the president of the regional government of Galicia, published a message offering condolences to his family and acknowledging his career in public life.

All my affection to his family. Galician nationalism undoubtedly loses a reference point.

Ana Pontón, the spokesperson and leader of the BNG, published a photograph alongside Beiras and sent condolences to his relatives, including Ricardo and Daniel.

He has a place forever in the heart and in the history of the Galician people.

In the months leading up to his death, Beiras remained engaged with regional cultural and political events. He attended an event in Padrón honoring writer Xosé Luis Méndez Ferrín and joined the crowd at the Apostle festival proclamation in Santiago de Compostela in solidarity with the Palestinian people. During the previous spring, he also participated in the presentation of a book detailing the history of the PSG.