MADRID: Alberto Nunez Feijoo, who’s hoping to turn out to be Spain‘s subsequent prime minister, likes to painting himself as a middle-of-the-road politician promising stability and a gradual hand on the tiller.
A local of Galicia within the rural northwest, the 61-year-old is hoping his reasonable stance and dull-but-dependable model will win over the voters when Spain votes on July 23.
When he took over as head of the right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP) in April 2022, he was hailed as a realistic reasonable and a protected pair of fingers to steer a celebration recovering from one of many worst inside crises in its historical past.
“Feijoo could be very predictable, he likes to point out off his transparency and current himself as a dependable, reliable politician,” stated Fran Balado, a Galician journalist and creator of the e book “Feijoo’s Journey” (2021).
“He is a reasonable as a result of he manages to draw progressive voters and he is a pragmatist whom folks belief,” he advised AFP.
Till final yr, Feijoo spent his political profession in Galicia the place he was first elected regional chief in 2009 with an absolute majority — a feat he went on to repeat three extra instances.
“The Feijoo model of moderation managed to win him majority assist 4 instances as a result of he actually managed to woo folks, even when they think about themselves social democrats,” Balado stated.
“He is attempting to win that centre floor as a result of that is the place he believes most individuals are.”
Throughout his years on the helm of Galicia, Feijoo managed to maintain the far-right at bay, which by no means gained a single seat within the regional parliament regardless of its nationwide resurgence.
However though the PP is slated to win this election, it will not be with an absolute majority that means Feijoo might doubtless want assist from the far-right occasion Vox to rule — a troublesome proposition for somebody who has constructed his fame on being a reasonable.
For months, Feijoo has relentlessly vowed to “overthrow Sanchismo”, a derisory slogan focusing on the insurance policies and individual of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez — a tactic aimed toward deflecting robust questions on Vox, stated Pablo Simon, political scientist at Madrid’s Carlos III College.
“We all know he opposes Sanchez however we do not know what sort of presidency he needs…, he is attempting to take care of some type of ambiguity,” stated Simon, who stated Feijoo at all times performs his playing cards near his chest and stays one thing of an enigma.
“You do not actually know if he is going by some means, it relies on the circumstances. And that is a part of the sport.”
Born on September 10, 1961, within the village of Os Peares, Feijoo grew up in a working-class household.
His father labored in building and his mom ran a grocery store.
A studious little one, he learn legislation in Santiago de Compostela, hoping to turn out to be a decide. However when his father was left jobless, he pitched in to assist, turning into a civil servant in 1985.
His curiosity in politics was piqued at college, when he would watch debates on tv.
Nevertheless it was solely in 1991 that he bought his foot on the political ladder, taking a job at Galicia’s agriculture ministry with a politician who later turned Spain’s well being minister and took Feijoo with him to Madrid in 1996.
There, Feijoo ran Insalud, Spain’s nationwide well being service on the time. In 2000, he took over as head of the Correos postal service.
Three years after returning to Galicia, he turned regional head of the PP in 2006, main it to victory in 2009.
Regardless of saying his “highest political ambition” was to be Galicia’s chief, the village boy from Os Peares packed his luggage and moved to Madrid final yr and now hopes to turn out to be “the primary prime minister from rural Spain”.
Though he has strong fame as one of many PP’s most-respected leaders, Feijoo has no expertise in worldwide politics and doesn’t communicate English, elevating eyebrows this yr after referring to US rock legend Bruce Springsteen as “Bruce Sprinter”.
Usually very guarded about his non-public life, he gave an interview to El Mundo’s ladies’s complement in March, providing a uncommon glimpse at Feijoo the household man.
Described as “reasonably austere and never vulnerable to the frenzy of trend traits”, Feijoo advised the journal that turning into a father in his mid-50s along with his companion Eva Cardenas was the “finest reward life has given me”.
“I did not need youngsters earlier than.. [but] I am very completely satisfied to have had a son simply earlier than the ultimate whistle,” admitted Feijoo, who can typically be seen strolling by means of Madrid’s upmarket Chamartin district along with his six-year-old son Alberto and canine Cata, a schnauzer.
A self-professed “neat-freak and perfectionist” who’s “very demanding,” Feijoo is near his mum Sira and says he rings her if he is had “a nasty day”.
Though he would not cook dinner — “I am a specialist at opening tins” — he is an aficionado of conventional Galician dishes, notably goose barnacles and recent spider crab, and a fan of Galician soccer group Deportivo de La Coruna.
A local of Galicia within the rural northwest, the 61-year-old is hoping his reasonable stance and dull-but-dependable model will win over the voters when Spain votes on July 23.
When he took over as head of the right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP) in April 2022, he was hailed as a realistic reasonable and a protected pair of fingers to steer a celebration recovering from one of many worst inside crises in its historical past.
“Feijoo could be very predictable, he likes to point out off his transparency and current himself as a dependable, reliable politician,” stated Fran Balado, a Galician journalist and creator of the e book “Feijoo’s Journey” (2021).
“He is a reasonable as a result of he manages to draw progressive voters and he is a pragmatist whom folks belief,” he advised AFP.
Till final yr, Feijoo spent his political profession in Galicia the place he was first elected regional chief in 2009 with an absolute majority — a feat he went on to repeat three extra instances.
“The Feijoo model of moderation managed to win him majority assist 4 instances as a result of he actually managed to woo folks, even when they think about themselves social democrats,” Balado stated.
“He is attempting to win that centre floor as a result of that is the place he believes most individuals are.”
Throughout his years on the helm of Galicia, Feijoo managed to maintain the far-right at bay, which by no means gained a single seat within the regional parliament regardless of its nationwide resurgence.
However though the PP is slated to win this election, it will not be with an absolute majority that means Feijoo might doubtless want assist from the far-right occasion Vox to rule — a troublesome proposition for somebody who has constructed his fame on being a reasonable.
For months, Feijoo has relentlessly vowed to “overthrow Sanchismo”, a derisory slogan focusing on the insurance policies and individual of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez — a tactic aimed toward deflecting robust questions on Vox, stated Pablo Simon, political scientist at Madrid’s Carlos III College.
“We all know he opposes Sanchez however we do not know what sort of presidency he needs…, he is attempting to take care of some type of ambiguity,” stated Simon, who stated Feijoo at all times performs his playing cards near his chest and stays one thing of an enigma.
“You do not actually know if he is going by some means, it relies on the circumstances. And that is a part of the sport.”
Born on September 10, 1961, within the village of Os Peares, Feijoo grew up in a working-class household.
His father labored in building and his mom ran a grocery store.
A studious little one, he learn legislation in Santiago de Compostela, hoping to turn out to be a decide. However when his father was left jobless, he pitched in to assist, turning into a civil servant in 1985.
His curiosity in politics was piqued at college, when he would watch debates on tv.
Nevertheless it was solely in 1991 that he bought his foot on the political ladder, taking a job at Galicia’s agriculture ministry with a politician who later turned Spain’s well being minister and took Feijoo with him to Madrid in 1996.
There, Feijoo ran Insalud, Spain’s nationwide well being service on the time. In 2000, he took over as head of the Correos postal service.
Three years after returning to Galicia, he turned regional head of the PP in 2006, main it to victory in 2009.
Regardless of saying his “highest political ambition” was to be Galicia’s chief, the village boy from Os Peares packed his luggage and moved to Madrid final yr and now hopes to turn out to be “the primary prime minister from rural Spain”.
Though he has strong fame as one of many PP’s most-respected leaders, Feijoo has no expertise in worldwide politics and doesn’t communicate English, elevating eyebrows this yr after referring to US rock legend Bruce Springsteen as “Bruce Sprinter”.
Usually very guarded about his non-public life, he gave an interview to El Mundo’s ladies’s complement in March, providing a uncommon glimpse at Feijoo the household man.
Described as “reasonably austere and never vulnerable to the frenzy of trend traits”, Feijoo advised the journal that turning into a father in his mid-50s along with his companion Eva Cardenas was the “finest reward life has given me”.
“I did not need youngsters earlier than.. [but] I am very completely satisfied to have had a son simply earlier than the ultimate whistle,” admitted Feijoo, who can typically be seen strolling by means of Madrid’s upmarket Chamartin district along with his six-year-old son Alberto and canine Cata, a schnauzer.
A self-professed “neat-freak and perfectionist” who’s “very demanding,” Feijoo is near his mum Sira and says he rings her if he is had “a nasty day”.
Though he would not cook dinner — “I am a specialist at opening tins” — he is an aficionado of conventional Galician dishes, notably goose barnacles and recent spider crab, and a fan of Galician soccer group Deportivo de La Coruna.
