Alberto Núñez Feijóo labels Sánchez authoritarian and warns of weakened Spanish democracy at Libertas Forum

At the Libertas Forum organized by the European Popular Party in Madrid, the leader of Spain’s People’s Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said the head of government, Pedro Sánchez, is an “authoritarian president”. He listed traits such as “recelar de los jueces, desprezar las mayorías parlamentarias, temer a las urnas, y cuestionar la independencia de las instituciones” as hallmarks of authoritarianism and warned that “España sufre una democracia debilitada, agredida desde las más altas instancias”. Feijóo called for defending liberal democracies against populism and urged a return to democratic renewal.

Feijóo also referenced recent judicial decisions – the EU Court of Justice’s endorsement of the amnesty law and a Madrid court ruling allowing the prosecution of Begoña Gómez, Sánchez’s wife – to criticize the government’s handling of the rule of law. Former prime minister José María Aznar, speaking at the same forum, defended a “centro político” that is not ambiguous or a compromise between left and right, urging the PP to present clear, moderate proposals.

The speeches framed the upcoming electoral contest as a choice between defending democratic institutions and avoiding a drift toward populist or authoritarian tendencies.