Alberto Núñez Feijóo has sharply criticized the Spanish government over what he describes as deliberate manipulation of the electoral roll through the “Ley de nietos.” In a recent interview, the Partido Popular leader claimed the PSOE is using the Democratic Memory Law to grant Spanish nationality to descendants of people affected by the Civil War, potentially adding 2.5 million eligible voters. Feijóo argued that the move reflects the ruling party’s fear of losing its majority, saying the current electorate does not guarantee its hold on power.
The “Ley de nietos” is the common name for the nationality option established by the eighth additional provision of Law 20/2022, the Democratic Memory Law, enacted on October 19, 2022. It is not a separate statute. The provision covers several categories, including certain descendants of exiled Spaniards and descendants of Spanish women who lost their nationality through marriage. Consular procedures require applicants to submit standardized forms, birth certificates and documents establishing their family line. Applications are processed as nationality-by-option cases. After recognition, the acquisition must be registered in Spain’s Civil Registry.
Feijóo said the government is seeking to expand the voter base in Latin America, where he claimed more than 2.6 million nationality applications have been submitted under the “Ley de nietos.” He cited more than 650,000 requests from Buenos Aires and around 100,000 denials. The PP leader also pointed to the regularization of 1.3 million immigrants in recent years as further evidence of what he calls “electoral engineering.” He presented these figures as part of his political argument. The number of applications alone does not count people who have acquired nationality or become eligible to vote. The process involves documentary review, a decision on the application and civil-registration steps.
Feijóo expressed concern about the government’s authority to assign a province of reference to new citizens whose ancestral ties are unclear, suggesting this could influence electoral outcomes. He also questioned the process’s transparency, saying that in Cuba the handling of applications has been outsourced to a state-owned company. Consular procedures for Spaniards living abroad distinguish nationality from electoral registration. Registration with the relevant consular authority and separate electoral paperwork, including a declaration to choose a municipality for electoral purposes, establish the electoral connection. The opposition leader said that such a dramatic increase in the electoral roll within just eighteen months would be unprecedented in Spanish democracy.
Feijóo announced that the Partido Popular will propose a reform of the nationality law, with stricter requirements for those seeking Spanish citizenship. He also criticized the government’s recent regularization of approximately one million immigrants, arguing that it may conflict with European law and expressing hope that the Supreme Court will intervene.
The political tension comes amid broader scrutiny of the PSOE’s leadership. Feijóo referred to the legal troubles of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, alleging a dramatic fall from grace and suggesting Pedro Sánchez’s support for Zapatero points to deeper issues within the party. He questioned whether their relationship extended beyond politics to economic interests, warning that the ongoing investigation could have lasting consequences for the PSOE.
Feijóo outlined his priorities should he become prime minister: institutional reform, housing, immigration, taxes and security. He advocated measures to support the middle class, including a reduction in personal income tax, though he did not specify the extent of the proposed cuts. On electoral reform, he expressed skepticism about reaching consensus with the current PSOE leadership but reiterated his preference for a system that rewards the most-voted list, similar to the model used in municipal elections.
The debate over the expanding electoral roll and the government’s approach to nationality laws comes amid heightened political maneuvering in Spain. Recent developments, including calls from Junts for Sánchez to step down to prevent a far-right government, highlight the volatility of the political field. For more on the pressures facing the PSOE leadership, see this analysis of Catalan demands and party tensions: Catalan demands put pressure on PSOE leadership amid political deadlock.
The “Ley de nietos” forms part of Spain’s broader effort to address historical memory and the legacy of the Civil War. It allows qualifying descendants of Spaniards who went into exile or suffered persecution to apply for citizenship, alongside other groups specified by law. Consular guidance describes a documentary process, not automatic nationality: applicants must establish their eligibility and family relationship, and successful acquisitions must be entered in the Spanish Civil Registry. Nationality and electoral registration are separate administrative steps. The measure remains politically contentious, with supporters presenting it as redress for historical injustices and critics warning of possible effects on the electoral system. The debate reflects wider tensions over immigration, national identity and the balance of political power in Spain.
