MADRID, Spain – The Popular Party has opened the electoral pre-campaign ahead of the 29 November vote with an event in Madrid at which candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo did not hesitate to rub salt into the wound of one of the corruption cases dogging the PSOE, specifically that of the so-called dirty operations and the alleged plot to threaten Judge Beatriz Biedma, the investigator in Pedro Sánchez’s brother’s case.
Judge Biedma Says She Learned From A Drug Clan That The PSOE Wanted To Get Rid Of Her
At an event held at IFEMA Madrid, surrounded by some of the PP’s regional barons and former prime ministers such as Mariano Rajoy and José María Aznar, Feijóo challenged Sánchez to reveal who in the Socialist Party gave the order to get rid of the judge investigating his brother. The opposition leader said at the rally that this would be the only thing he would say about the prime minister, adding that he would not talk about him because Spain needs a future and he has to be the past. He did, however, refer to the possible relations between the PSOE and the Extremaduran Los Rochos clan to intimidate the judge investigating Sánchez’s brother David, who was convicted by the Provincial Court of Badajoz, saying it is a democratic question and he has an obligation to answer.
The PP leader took the opportunity to showcase his model of government ahead of the elections, stating that he offers a serene but forceful change in Spain if he manages to govern and that he will lead the country with the truth ahead of him, never leaving Spaniards in the lurch. He said he does not come from saunas or sewers but from management, from presenting and balancing budgets, sustaining public services and facing up in good times and above all in difficult ones, recalling his past as president of the Xunta de Galicia. The Galician politician said he knows what it is to govern and what it costs, that he is aware of what Spaniards expect of him and that he will meet their expectations.
Feijóo said Spain needs to open a new era and that they are going to open it, promising to rebuild institutions so that nobody again thinks power is above the rules, nobody and not them either, making clear that power is not above the rules in any democracy, whoever it affects. He promised not to divide Spaniards between mine and my enemies, highlighting that he is guided by principles such as order, security and prosperity, and said he will seek the vote of those who have never voted PP because that above all is who must be listened to. He said he is not proposing a simple alternation, that Spain needs to review the rules, strengthen institutions and open a new era, insisting he will govern with the truth ahead of him, without selling out and facing up, adding that Spain needs direction and that requires more than replacing one government with another, requiring a review of the rules, recovery of checks and balances, strengthening of institutions and restoring to Spaniards the certainty that the state serves everyone.
He also referred to the economy, showing himself in favour of not punishing Spaniards’ effort with taxes and unjust burdens and ensuring public services work when most needed. He said they will rebuild security so that borders are respected and laws applied, promising to do it with the truth ahead, clear accounts and respect for those who do not vote for them, and promising that if he reaches Moncloa he will not divide citizens between mine and enemies and will not ask anyone who they voted for last time. He said that to compete he does not have to manipulate, to win he does not have to sell out and to govern he will not have to lie, recalling that the PP is a project of people who strive and do not want to appear but want to do, promising to give everything and asking his members to multiply during the 50 days remaining until the elections.
Before Feijóo’s intervention, Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso also spoke, expressing her fears that the PSOE could commit fraud in the elections in 50 days, specifically in postal voting. She asked what happened in the 2023 elections when they won again, what occurred then, how many people asked to vote by post on a date chosen treacherously and did not receive their vote or received it late, saying everyone knows cases and asking how many complaints there have been across Spain. The Madrid president did not hesitate to describe as lukewarm those who criticise her for warning of possible postal vote fraud and insisted that Sánchez will certainly try to commit every fraud he can, saying they know full well that on equal terms at the ballot box they have nothing to do. Ayuso therefore urged Spaniards to open their eyes because, in her words, Pedro Sánchez’s executive has tried to break the rules of the game and inflate the censuses with the grandchildren’s law and the regularisation of immigrants.
Judge Pedraz Refuses To Indict The PSOE
Madrid mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida also spoke, predicting a dirty electoral campaign since there is more dignity in Los Rochos than in Ferraz, also in reference to the scandal around Pedro Sánchez’s brother’s case. The Madrid mayor said that while the left will run a campaign of hate, confrontation and finger-pointing, the PP will run one of joy, confidence and hope.
