Catalonia has 48 of the 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies at stake in the 29 November general election, about 13.7% of the lower house. That total could prove crucial to the next investiture. The PP chose Badalona for its first campaign rally, putting the region at the centre of Alberto Núñez Feijóo's appeal. The rally took place on 12 November, before the formal campaign period, scheduled to run from 13 to 27 November. The election was called by the Council of Ministers on 5 October.
Speaking at the packed Polideportivo Municipal Llefià, Feijóo said he wanted Catalonia to play a decisive role in rebuilding Spain. He called for the region to be open and strong, and to regain its position as the country's engine. His remarks were made in Spanish. Catalonia elects representatives across Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and its 48 seats make it a significant part of the national contest.
Feijóo said he had chosen Badalona for its people and out of conviction. The city is governed by PP mayor Xavier García Albiol, who won a historic absolute majority in the previous municipal elections. Alejandro Fernández, leader of the Catalan PP, and MEP Dolors Montserrat also featured at the rally. Albiol's local electoral success is a central part of the PP's effort to broaden its support in the general election.
The regional seat count gives the campaign a clear electoral focus. In the previous general election on 23 July 2023, the PP came fifth in Catalonia with six seats, 13 fewer than the winning PSC. Five of those six PP seats came from Barcelona and one from Tarragona; the party had no seats in Girona or Lleida. La Vanguardia reported that the PP was aiming to increase its Catalan representation from six to nine deputies, including by contesting seats in provinces where it narrowly missed out in 2023. A separate report on Feijóo's election programme covered other pledges from the party.
