Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP), has intensified his party’s focus on immigration reform, promising a significant shift in the country's approach to citizenship and border security. During a party event in the town of Badalona, Barcelona, on Sunday, Feijóo criticized the current policies of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s ruling Socialist Party. He described the nation as being at an "existential crossroads" and promised a "democratic break with Spain's decline," calling for a "total cleansing" of current policies.
The opposition leader declared that a future PP government would implement an "orderly" immigration policy. He emphasized that the country’s doors would remain open to those arriving to work but would be "completely closed" to individuals who enter with the intent to break the law or live off state benefits. Feijóo argued that it is "nonsensical" that entering Spain illegally is currently easier than entering with a valid work contract, asserting that "you can’t come to a country to live off others. You can’t, and we won’t allow it."
A core component of the proposed strategy involves a stricter approach to nationality. Feijóo stated his intention to "restore the prestige" of the Spanish passport by reviewing how citizenship is granted, maintained, and revoked. Building on a proposal introduced last week, the PP leader reiterated that his party would seek to revoke the citizenship of naturalized foreigners who commit serious crimes in Spain. He specifically mentioned that those convicted of belonging to a criminal gang, murder, or repeat sex offenses should face such consequences. He maintained that it is "fair" and "reasonable" to review these criteria, adding that "a country with self-esteem is demanding, both of those born here and those who come to live here."
Feijóo also criticized the government's handling of the "Grandchildren's Law," which grants citizenship to the descendants of Spaniards who left the country during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship. According to government figures, approximately 2.4 million people have applied for citizenship through this route, with the majority being from Latin American nations. Furthermore, the PP leader noted that many of the nearly 500,000 to over 1 million migrants who will obtain residency as a result of this year's mass amnesty are from Ibero-American nations, meaning they will be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship in two years. He expressed concern that it makes "no sense that a country can sustain its services if people arrive without control and give away citizenship to millions of people."
This rhetoric aligns with the PP’s broader strategy to appear tougher on immigration, a move intended to consolidate support among right-wing voters as the party competes with the far-right Vox. The PP has toughened this rhetoric for over a year, following polling in 2025 which showed the centre-right party losing support to Vox. More recently, polls indicated that a right-wing bloc made up of the PP and Vox would obtain an absolute majority for the first time in three years. As part of this platform, the party has proposed a raft of new laws, including a points-based visa system and measures to make it impossible for overstayers to obtain residency.
During his appearance on Sunday, Feijóo also expressed solidarity with Vox leader Santiago Abascal following an attempted attack on the politician during a meeting in Tarragona, stating that Abascal was only trying to "defend his ideas." Feijóo is scheduled to visit Ceuta on Monday as the migrant crisis continues to be a subject of intense public debate in the Spanish territory.
