Miguel Ángel Gallardo, leader of the Socialists in Extremadura, has been living under constant stress for almost two years. As the third secretary of the regional branch of PSOE, he immediately became a target—and not just because of his position. He is facing charges over the alleged illegal employment of the prime minister’s brother during his time as head of the Badajoz province. Gallardo himself insists this is nothing more than an attempt to use the courts for political gain.
Internal party disagreements, which became evident after two rounds of primaries, have only increased the tension. Moreover, his move to the regional parliament sparked controversy, as it granted him parliamentary immunity. Amid constant comparisons to his predecessor, Guillermo Fernández Vara, Gallardo has been forced to respond to accusations of corruption and sexual harassment that have shaken the ranks of the Socialists.
Corruption and scandals
Gallardo admits he would rather be running a campaign focused on the region’s real problems than defending himself against others’ misdeeds. But national scandals involving former allies inevitably impact the party’s image. He stresses that no political force is immune to corruption, but says that PSOE has zero tolerance for such cases—those found guilty are immediately expelled from the party.
Reflecting on his work with Santos Serdán, Gallardo admits: he managed to deceive many. However, Gallardo remains convinced that the Socialists are the only party consistently defending women’s rights and fighting sexism. In his view, it is precisely because of this principled stance that cases of harassment are first exposed within the PSOE—and it is here that women have said ‘enough.’
Judicial pressure
Gallardo considers his own prosecution to be part of a political game. He claims that the charges are the result of a coordinated campaign by opponents aiming to weaken and discredit him as a candidate. Over his 21 years in the municipality and 10 years in provincial administration, he says he has always acted transparently. Despite being confident in his innocence, Gallardo concedes that reputational damage has already been done.
The trial in his case was postponed until May, and the politician is convinced: elections in Extremadura were scheduled not in the region’s interest, but to strengthen the position of Alberto Núñez Feijóo. According to Gallardo, current regional leader María Guardiola deliberately accelerated the elections to prevent the court from revealing the truth before the vote. He believes all possible forms of pressure have been used against the Socialists.
Strategies and mistakes
Gallardo admits it might have been better to take a seat in the Extremadura Assembly earlier, when his predecessor left for the Senate. However, back then, the situation with the Prime Minister’s brother didn’t have as much public resonance. He points out that it’s important for politicians to acknowledge strategic mistakes when society doesn’t understand them.
Speaking about the People’s Party’s chances, Gallardo reminds us that in Extremadura, it has never governed for two consecutive terms, and this election was called unexpectedly. In his view, the region did not need early elections, and Guardiola made this decision for personal reasons. He criticizes cutbacks in healthcare and the cancellation of free school meals, as well as failures in organizing school transport that left thousands of children without transportation.
The region’s future
Gallardo is convinced that if Guardiola does not get an absolute majority, she will have to rely even more on support from Vox, which would lead to further hardening of policies and cuts in social benefits. He accuses her of breaking her promise not to cooperate with Europe’s most radical party, and of calling elections without real budget discussions.
As for the Socialists’ prospects, Gallardo says he has no doubt about his party’s success and doesn’t consider the scenario of defeat. He believes low voter turnout would be a failure for all politics, since holding the campaign at the height of holiday season is an attempt to reduce voter participation. In his opinion, high turnout is the best outcome for the PSOE.
When asked about a possible resignation in the event of an election defeat, Gallardo declined to answer, stressing that the priority now is to mobilize voters and secure maximum support.
As RUSSPAIN.COM reported earlier, María Guardiola continues to insist that the People’s Party is on the right track, despite unfavorable forecasts. She emphasizes the party’s support for farmers and accuses the Socialists and Vox of blocking reforms. Read more about Guardiola’s stance and the upcoming elections in Extremadura in our previous article.
