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Madrid: Alberto Nunez Figowho he hopes to become SpainThe next prime minister, he likes to portray himself as a middle-of-the-road politician who promises stability and a steady hand on the fellah.
native of Galicia In the rural northwest, the 61-year-old is hoping his moderate stance and lackluster but dependable brand will win over voters when Spain votes on July 23.
When he took over the right-wing opposition People’s Party in April 2022, he was hailed as a pragmatic moderate and safe husband to lead a party recovering from one of the worst internal crises in its history.
“Figo is very predictable, he likes to show his transparency and present himself as a reliable and trustworthy politician,” said Fran Pallado, Galician journalist and author of The Journey of Vigo (2021).
“He is moderate because he succeeded in attracting progressive voters, and he is a pragmatist, people trust him,” he told AFP.
Until last year, Feijoo spent his political career in Galicia where he was first elected regional leader in 2009 by an outright majority – a feat he has gone on to repeat three more times.
“Figo’s method of moderation has won him majority support four times because he has already succeeded in attracting people, even if they consider themselves social democrats,” Pallado said.
“He’s trying to win that position because he thinks most people are in it.”
During his years as president of Galicia, Figo managed to keep out the far right, which had not won a single seat in the regional parliament despite its national resurgence.
But although the People’s Party is set to win this election, it won’t be an outright majority which means Figo will likely need support from the far-right Vox party to govern – a difficult proposition for someone who has built a reputation as a moderate.
For months, said Pablo Simón, a political science professor at Madrid’s University Carlos III, Figo has vowed relentlessly to “overthrow Sanchismo,” a satirical catchphrase aimed at the policies and person of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez — a tactic intended to deflect tough questions from Fox.
Simon, who said Figo always plays his cards close to his chest remains something of an enigma.
“You never really know if it’s going to go one way or the other, it depends on the circumstances. That’s part of the game.”
Born on September 10, 1961 in the village of Os Peares, Vigo grew up in a working-class family.
His father worked in construction and his mother ran a grocery store.
A studious child, he read law in Santiago de Compostela, hoping to become a judge. But when his father was left unemployed, he stepped forward to help, becoming a civil servant in 1985.
His interest in politics was piqued at university, when he was watching the debates on TV.
But it was only in 1991 that he set his foot on the political ladder, taking a job in the Ministry of Agriculture in Galicia with a politician who would later become Spain’s Minister of Health and taking Figo with him to Madrid in 1996.
There, he directed Feijoo Insalud, Spain’s National Health Service at the time. In 2000, he took over as President of Correos Postal Services.
Three years after returning to Galicia, he became regional president of the People’s Party in 2006, which led to his victory in 2009.
Despite saying his “highest political ambition” is to be the leader of Galicia, the village boy from Os Perce packed his bags and moved to Madrid last year and now hopes to become “the first prime minister from rural Spain”.
Although he has a reputation as one of PP’s most respected leaders, Feijoo has no experience in international politics and speaks no English, raising eyebrows this year after referring to US rock legend Bruce Springsteen as “Bruce Sprinter”.
Usually very guarded about his private life, he gave an interview to the El Mundo women’s supplement in March, offering a rare glimpse into Feijoo the family man.
Described as “fairly strict and not prone to the frenzy of fashion trends”, Vigo told the magazine that being a father in his mid-50s with partner Eva Cárdenas was “the best gift life has given me”.
“I never wanted children before.. (but) I am very happy that I had a child before the final whistle,” he admitted. feijoowho can sometimes be seen walking the posh Chamartín district of Madrid with his six-year-old son Alberto and Cata’s dog, Schnauzer.
Viggo, who declares himself to be “eccentric, a perfectionist” and “very demanding”, is close to his mother Cera and says he calls her if he’s had a “bad day”.
Although he doesn’t cook – “I’m a can opener” – he is fond of traditional Galician dishes, particularly goose barnacles and fresh lobster, and is a fan of Galician football team Deportivo de la Corona.
native of Galicia In the rural northwest, the 61-year-old is hoping his moderate stance and lackluster but dependable brand will win over voters when Spain votes on July 23.
When he took over the right-wing opposition People’s Party in April 2022, he was hailed as a pragmatic moderate and safe husband to lead a party recovering from one of the worst internal crises in its history.
“Figo is very predictable, he likes to show his transparency and present himself as a reliable and trustworthy politician,” said Fran Pallado, Galician journalist and author of The Journey of Vigo (2021).
“He is moderate because he succeeded in attracting progressive voters, and he is a pragmatist, people trust him,” he told AFP.
Until last year, Feijoo spent his political career in Galicia where he was first elected regional leader in 2009 by an outright majority – a feat he has gone on to repeat three more times.
“Figo’s method of moderation has won him majority support four times because he has already succeeded in attracting people, even if they consider themselves social democrats,” Pallado said.
“He’s trying to win that position because he thinks most people are in it.”
During his years as president of Galicia, Figo managed to keep out the far right, which had not won a single seat in the regional parliament despite its national resurgence.
But although the People’s Party is set to win this election, it won’t be an outright majority which means Figo will likely need support from the far-right Vox party to govern – a difficult proposition for someone who has built a reputation as a moderate.
For months, said Pablo Simón, a political science professor at Madrid’s University Carlos III, Figo has vowed relentlessly to “overthrow Sanchismo,” a satirical catchphrase aimed at the policies and person of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez — a tactic intended to deflect tough questions from Fox.
Simon, who said Figo always plays his cards close to his chest remains something of an enigma.
“You never really know if it’s going to go one way or the other, it depends on the circumstances. That’s part of the game.”
Born on September 10, 1961 in the village of Os Peares, Vigo grew up in a working-class family.
His father worked in construction and his mother ran a grocery store.
A studious child, he read law in Santiago de Compostela, hoping to become a judge. But when his father was left unemployed, he stepped forward to help, becoming a civil servant in 1985.
His interest in politics was piqued at university, when he was watching the debates on TV.
But it was only in 1991 that he set his foot on the political ladder, taking a job in the Ministry of Agriculture in Galicia with a politician who would later become Spain’s Minister of Health and taking Figo with him to Madrid in 1996.
There, he directed Feijoo Insalud, Spain’s National Health Service at the time. In 2000, he took over as President of Correos Postal Services.
Three years after returning to Galicia, he became regional president of the People’s Party in 2006, which led to his victory in 2009.
Despite saying his “highest political ambition” is to be the leader of Galicia, the village boy from Os Perce packed his bags and moved to Madrid last year and now hopes to become “the first prime minister from rural Spain”.
Although he has a reputation as one of PP’s most respected leaders, Feijoo has no experience in international politics and speaks no English, raising eyebrows this year after referring to US rock legend Bruce Springsteen as “Bruce Sprinter”.
Usually very guarded about his private life, he gave an interview to the El Mundo women’s supplement in March, offering a rare glimpse into Feijoo the family man.
Described as “fairly strict and not prone to the frenzy of fashion trends”, Vigo told the magazine that being a father in his mid-50s with partner Eva Cárdenas was “the best gift life has given me”.
“I never wanted children before.. (but) I am very happy that I had a child before the final whistle,” he admitted. feijoowho can sometimes be seen walking the posh Chamartín district of Madrid with his six-year-old son Alberto and Cata’s dog, Schnauzer.
Viggo, who declares himself to be “eccentric, a perfectionist” and “very demanding”, is close to his mother Cera and says he calls her if he’s had a “bad day”.
Although he doesn’t cook – “I’m a can opener” – he is fond of traditional Galician dishes, particularly goose barnacles and fresh lobster, and is a fan of Galician football team Deportivo de la Corona.
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