Former Prime Minister José María Aznar has urged opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo to secure a sweeping “national majority” in the next general election, warning that Spain faces a fundamental shift in its political system, beyond a change of government. Aznar made the remarks at a breakfast event in Madrid, amid heightened tensions within the Partido Popular (PP) and debate over the party’s alliances and electoral strategy.
Speaking at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Aznar outlined a vision for a broad coalition capable of attracting support from the left and the right. He argued that the next election goes beyond routine political turnover, suggesting that Pedro Sánchez’s policies could bring a deeper change of Spain’s institutional structure. Aznar did not mention Feijóo by name, but his message was clear: the PP leader must rally a wide base to counter what Aznar called a “system change.”
The timing of Aznar’s intervention matters. Feijóo has faced scrutiny over the PP’s tactical cooperation with Junts in parliamentary votes. The party’s willingness to align with regional groups has raised questions about its long-term strategy. The Senate vote on a PP motion calling for early elections showed the limits of that parliamentary arithmetic: Junts abstained and the PNV voted against, as described in recent coverage of the Senate vote.
At the same event, PP parliamentary spokesperson Ester Muñoz addressed the party’s voting patterns and its position on the so-called “grandchildren law.” The route is not a standalone statute by that name. It was established in the eighth additional provision of Spain’s 2022 Democratic Memory Law, Law 20/2022. It provides a path to Spanish nationality for eligible people born abroad whose parent or grandparent was originally Spanish and lost or renounced nationality after exile for specified reasons, including persecution tied to political or ideological beliefs and religion, or to sexual orientation or identity.
An implementing instruction issued in October 2022 broadened the provision’s practical application. It extended eligibility to people born abroad with a parent or grandparent who was originally Spanish and presumed exile for Spaniards who left the country between 18 July 1936 and 31 December 1955. That presumption reduced the documentary burden for applicants in the specified period. Muñoz has said the PP supports nationality for descendants of exiles while questioning the speed and oversight of the government’s implementation, including its use of external service providers and expansion of the electoral roll.
A subsequent dispute centered on whether some people naturalized through this route could vote in Spain’s general election. RTVE reported that the group affected numbered 163,020 and that the matter was before the Supreme Court. The Constitutional Court declined to admit the Ombudsman’s challenge as premature, with 10 judges voting against admission and two in favor. The challenge concerned a Supreme Court measure suspending voting rights for naturalized citizens unable to demonstrate descent from exiles. PP spokesperson Ester Muñoz argued that the court had not protected alleged abuse of the nationality process; Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun described the Supreme Court action as an effort to remove the vote from citizens with full legal rights. Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo respected the Constitutional Court’s decision but voiced concern about its potential effect on citizens’ basic right to vote.
The nationality debate comes as the PP distances itself from calls for a no-confidence motion against Sánchez, citing insufficient parliamentary support. Both Aznar and Feijóo have dismissed the viability of such a move, emphasizing instead the need for a compelling programme that can unite a broad range of voters. Muñoz has also said that, despite occasional alignment with Junts and the PNV on specific issues, a formal agreement with Junts remains unlikely because of basic differences.
The controversy over nationality and party alliances reflects broader tensions in Spanish politics. The Democratic Memory Law, passed in 2022, expanded access to Spanish nationality for qualifying descendants of people exiled during the Civil War and Franco era. Its implementation has become entangled with questions about electoral eligibility and application processing. The PP’s continued legal challenge to the amnesty law before the Constitutional Court further illustrates its opposition to recent legislative changes.
As Spain approaches another basic election cycle, the PP faces the dual challenge of consolidating its base and managing relationships with regional parties as it responds to government initiatives on historical memory and citizenship.
