The evening in Plasencia began with the distribution of Extremadura flags, as a crowd — mostly elderly people — gathered at the Palace of Congresses. The atmosphere was tense but festive: the hall echoed with chants in support of Pedro Sánchez, and the local band Sanguijuelas del Guadiana played on stage. It was here, in the region’s fourth-largest city, that the Prime Minister chose to launch the Socialist Party’s election campaign.
Sánchez immediately turned to the topic of healthcare, sharply criticizing the actions of the People’s Party (PP) and Isabel Díaz Ayuso personally. He recalled recent scandals over hospital privatization and longer waiting times for doctor appointments. “First they cut spending, then waiting lists grow, and in the end only a few benefit,” he said, alluding to recent leaked audio from Madrid’s Torrejón hospital. In his speech, Sánchez also addressed personal attacks, suggesting that people should “ask Ayuso’s fiancé,” prompting a lively reaction from the audience.
Despite a slightly hoarse voice, the PSOE leader made it clear he was not afraid of elections or unfavorable forecasts. He recalled last year’s electoral battle and urged supporters to mobilize fully: “We will defeat the right wing because they don’t like it when the left is in power.”
A challenging test for the Socialists
This time, the Socialists enter the election with a new leader — Miguel Ángel Gallardo, who has found himself at the center of scandal due to suspicions surrounding the employment of Sánchez’s brother in the Badajoz administration. Gallardo did not shy away from addressing the issue, reminding the audience of a recent Supreme Court decision that acquitted three socialist mayors from the Valle del Jerte, previously convicted of illegal cherry farm waste dumping. “I understand your pain and what you had to explain to your families,” he told the room, stressing that he himself carries “a backpack full of stones” placed on him, as he put it, by the far-right opposition.
Gallardo is facing extremely unfavorable polls, which predict a sharp drop in seats for the PSOE. Party insiders admit the campaign will be long and difficult. Last time, the Socialists won under Guillermo Fernández Vara, securing the same number of seats as the PP, but in the end, power shifted to the conservatives through an alliance with Vox.
Key promises and challenges
This time, Gallardo is focusing on young people, promising to build a thousand affordable apartments priced at 90,000 euros. This proposal has become a central issue in the campaign. He also drew attention to the agreement between the PP and Vox, reached in 2023, and criticized María Guardiola’s refusal to participate in three public debates. At the same time, Gallardo did not mention his left-wing rivals — the Unidas por Extremadura party, which also holds seats in the regional parliament.
The first days of the campaign are unfolding against a backdrop of voter fatigue and skepticism about the Socialists’ prospects. Many in the hall recalled past victories, but acknowledged that this year’s contest will be especially intense. The region remains highly competitive among the main political forces, and the outcome of the vote is unpredictable.
Political Atmosphere
Plasencia has become a battleground for heated debates over the future of Extremadura. Key topics include healthcare, social justice, and affordable housing. Sánchez and Gallardo are betting on mobilizing supporters and criticizing their opponents for moves to privatize vital sectors. Meanwhile, the opposition accuses the Socialists of corruption and inefficiency.
PSOE faces a tough challenge ahead: to regain voters’ trust and maintain its footing in a region where the political landscape is constantly shifting. The campaign has only just begun, but it is already clear that the fight will be tough and unpredictable.
For reference, Pedro Sánchez has served as President of the Government of Spain since 2018 and leads the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Throughout his tenure, he has often faced criticism from the opposition but managed to maintain leadership both within the party and on the national stage. Miguel Ángel Gallardo, former mayor of Villanueva de la Serena, is regarded as one of PSOE’s key regional politicians and is now leading the party through a tough election campaign in Extremadura.
