The issue of migrant legalization has once again become central to Spain’s political debate. The government’s decision to launch an emergency procedure granting legal status to over 800,000 foreigners has sparked a strong reaction from the opposition. For Spaniards, this is more than a dispute over laws — it raises questions about potential changes in the electorate and how these shifts might impact the country’s future.
Partido Popular leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Pedro Sánchez’s government of attempting to expand the electorate through this legalization. He claims that the authorities have no right to add hundreds of thousands of people to the electoral roll, even if these migrants will not be able to vote in the upcoming elections. Such statements fuel concerns among some citizens that changes in migration policy may be used for political gain.
Arguments and concerns
Feijóo insists that the mass legalization initiated by the government disrupts the balance of the electoral system. He maintains that this move is driven by a concealed plan for future electoral advantage. Although foreigners who are now granted residence permits will not be able to vote in municipal or national elections in 2027, the opposition continues to highlight potential risks to democracy.
According to current regulations, only after five years of legal residence can migrants from countries with reciprocity agreements participate in municipal elections. For most people from Latin America, Andorra, the Philippines, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal, or descendants of Sephardim, a special procedure applies: after two years of residence, they can apply for Spanish citizenship, which opens the way to participate in any elections. However, even in this case, new citizens will not be able to gain voting rights by 2027.
Political conflict
Other politicians are also actively involved in the debate over the legalization of migrants. Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso called the government’s initiative ‘irresponsible’ and a ‘trap’ that could change the makeup of the electorate. She claims that such measures contradict the position of most of parliament and European agreements. Feijóo, in turn, insists that the issue be discussed in Congress, even though the decision has already been made bypassing parliamentary debates.
The opposition also points out that the government is conflating two separate issues: mass legalization and granting citizenship under the Law of Historical Memory (Ley de Memoria Histórica), which has been in effect since 2007 and was expanded in 2022. Under this law, descendants of Spanish emigrants who suffered from the dictatorship and civil war may obtain citizenship. However, these processes are not directly related to the current legalization of migrants.
Public reaction
Debates continue both on social media and in the streets of major cities. Some see the government’s actions as an attempt to integrate migrants and address long-standing social problems, while others fear it will shift the political balance. In the 2023 municipal elections, over 450,000 foreigners from 13 countries with agreements with Spain were already eligible to vote. Now, critics believe this number could grow several times over in the future.
At the same time, supporters of the reform point out that none of the newly regularized migrants will be able to vote in the upcoming elections. To obtain voting rights, one not only needs legal status but also a lengthy period of residency and compliance with several formal procedures. Nevertheless, the opposition continues to argue that the government is laying the groundwork for future electoral changes.
Law and practice
The question of granting citizenship under the Law of Democratic Memory remains a separate issue. Since 2007, Spain has granted citizenship to descendants of victims of political repression, and since 2022, on an expanded list of grounds. This measure is considered an act of historical justice rather than a tool for political influence. However, in the current climate, the opposition is using both processes to intensify criticism of the government.
As a result, debates over the legalization of migrants and potential changes to the voter base have taken on a highly charged political tone. Whether this will bring about real changes in the electoral system remains an open question. But one thing is clear: the issue of migration and citizenship has become one of the most contentious topics in Spanish politics in recent years.
