Scandal Around 'Fadi': Is the PP Candidate's Cow Mascot Still Alive? A debate has erupted in Córdoba over the fate of 'Fadi', the cow mascot of Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla. Media and PP representatives are presenting conflicting versions. The story has become an unexpected highlight at the close of the election campaign.
In Córdoba, on the eve of the electoral campaign’s end, an unexpected debate flared up: is “Fadi,” the mascot cow of Partido Popular candidate Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, still alive? The animal’s fate has become one of the most talked-about topics in recent days, even overshadowing the traditionally calm flow of the campaign.
The story began eight years ago, when Moreno Bonilla first visited the El Cruce family farm and was photographed with a giant cow named “Fadi.” At that time, the animal weighed 800 kilograms and produced up to 80 liters of milk a day. The photo with the cow quickly spread through messaging apps, and soon the candidate took office as head of Andalusia with the support of Ciudadanos and Vox.
Since then, “Fadi” has become the unofficial symbol of Moreno Bonilla’s campaigns. In 2022, he visited the farm again, assuring on social media that the cow was “in great shape” and hoping for another stroke of luck. However, this year the situation changed dramatically: journalists began to investigate whether the famous cow was actually still alive.
According to Diario de Sevilla, one of the farmers reported that “Fadi” died almost two years ago. This information was confirmed by other farm owners, and the outlet eldiario.es published a story about how the campaign mascot is no longer taking part in the elections. Representatives of the Partido Popular refrained from commenting on the situation for a long time, which only fueled further interest.
At the beginning of the week, Moreno Bonilla, during an informal meeting with journalists, stated that “Fadi” is alive and well after treatment. His words quickly spread through the media, sparking a new wave of discussions. However, a few hours later, campaign representatives admitted they had no precise information about the animal's condition and that further communication with farmers would be necessary.
The scandal surrounding “Fadi” became an unexpected twist at the end of a campaign that had previously progressed without sharp conflicts or loud statements. Public attention to the fate of the cow was so great that, even amid other notable events — such as Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s visit to Mexico and the arrival of a cruise liner in Tenerife — this story became one of the most talked about in Andalusia.
The question about “Fadi”'s fate served as a reminder of how symbols and details can influence the course of a campaign and attract public attention. Similar situations have already occurred in other regions — for example, in Huelva, environmental challenges and the aftermath of an accident also became an electoral factor, as noted in the report on the influence of agrarian and environmental conflicts on the electoral process.
For reference: the average lifespan of cows is 15–20 years, although some individuals can reach up to 48 years, as was the case with the record-holder Big Bertha in Ireland. However, in “Fadi”'s case, a definitive answer about her fate has yet to be given — and this question has become a symbol of the 2026 Andalusian campaign.
