Miguel Ángel Gallardo, nominated by the Socialists for the position of head of the Extremadura government, has found himself at the center of a political storm. His campaign launch has been overshadowed by two major issues: a criminal investigation into alleged irregularities in the hiring of Pedro Sánchez’s brother, and the Salazar case scandal, which has severely damaged the party’s reputation among women voters.
Gallardo, despite the allegations, continues to assert his innocence. He claims he became a member of the regional parliament not for immunity, but to more effectively communicate his position to the region’s residents. However, this move provoked a wave of criticism and suspicions that the candidate was trying to shield himself from justice. The politician himself admits the decision was a mistake, as even his supporters misunderstood his motives.
A Rough Start
In the first days of the campaign, Gallardo has had to answer not only questions about his own case, but also about how the party is handling the fallout from the Salazar affair. This scandal has particularly damaged women’s trust in the Socialists, and female voters have traditionally played a key role for PSOE in the region.
Polls offer little hope for Gallardo: the Socialists are projected to score their worst result in the region’s history. Facing this outlook, the candidate bets on personal experience and managerial skills, highlighting his twenty years as mayor of Villanueva de la Serena and a decade leading the province of Badajoz. He avoids national conflicts and steers clear of controversies related to Madrid, also refraining from overusing rhetoric about the threat from Vox so as not to drive votes to his opponent from the People’s Party, María Guardiola.
Tactics and rhetoric
Gallardo is frank: opposing Vox in Extremadura is pointless, since Guardiola has already brought them into the government. In his view, the only difference between the PP and Vox is their image, not their substance. According to the candidate, the Socialists remain the only barrier against both right-wing forces.
Throughout the campaign, Gallardo prefers to focus on specific regional issues: road construction, infrastructure development, and business support. His speeches are often technical in tone, and his main criticism of opponents is their adherence to the “Ayuso model” in managing public services. Unlike other politicians who rely on catchy slogans and emotional statements, Gallardo draws on pragmatism and experience.
Internal party resources
Despite low poll ratings, Gallardo also has strengths. The PSOE still controls the majority of municipalities in Extremadura and both provincial administrations—in Cáceres and Badajoz. The party has nearly 10,000 members in the region, giving it substantial grassroots support.
National leaders are also deeply involved in the campaign: Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit Extremadura twice, and the economy minister, Carlos Cuerpo, a native of the region, will meet with local entrepreneurs. Gallardo himself is holding numerous meetings with various voter groups, focusing on concrete proposals and team-based work—his campaign avoids a personalist tone, and the PSOE logo is always front and center.
Connecting with voters
This past Sunday, the candidate visited the market in Zafra, where he spoke with residents, handed out roses, and offered passersby turrón with the message: “Let PP go home for Christmas.” Despite a tense social climate, Gallardo hasn’t encountered hostility—on the contrary, he is met with words of support and encouragement.
He acknowledges that attacks from opponents were aimed at discrediting and “depersonalizing” him. Gallardo is confident he will prove his innocence in court and questions who will compensate for the political damage if the accusations turn out to be unfounded.
Errors and challenges
The candidate openly admits that taking a seat in parliament was a mistake, since it led to misunderstandings even among his own supporters. He insists that his goal was to use the parliamentary platform to promote an alternative to Guardiola, not to gain immunity. Gallardo calls himself naive for not foreseeing the consequences of this decision.
Regarding the Salazar case, the politician acknowledges it has damaged the party, but emphasizes that the PSOE remains a “party of feminism” and holds itself to the highest standards. He is confident he can regain voters’ trust by being transparent and honest in his actions.
In case you didn’t know, Miguel Ángel Gallardo is one of Extremadura’s most experienced politicians, having led the municipality of Villanueva de la Serena for more than twenty years and served as president of the province of Badajoz for a decade. In 2025, he became the PSOE candidate for the presidency of the autonomous community. The Socialist Party has traditionally held a strong position in the region, but this campaign is unfolding against a backdrop of scandals and declining ratings. Gallardo is known for his pragmatic approach and emphasis on managerial expertise.
