Feijóo Backs Stricter Controls on Grandchildren’s Law for Spanish Nationality

Alberto Núñez Feijóo has claimed the People’s Party (PP) was justified in demanding stricter controls over the granting of Spanish nationality to descendants of political exiles.

Stricter Oversight for the ‘Grandchildren’s Law’

The JEC issued its mandate to the Electoral Census Office after a series of warnings surfaced over the application of the Law of Democratic Memory. This legislation, often called the “grandchildren’s law,” allows those who fled the dictatorship or were exiled for political reasons to reclaim their nationality.

The board ruled that the choice of municipality for electoral registration must be “sufficiently motivated” within the case file. The goal is simple: ensure transparency, objectivity, and equality in how the electoral census is formed.

Feijóo’s Demand for Census Verification

Speaking during the presentation of Poli Suárez, the PP candidate for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Feijóo argued that the JEC’s move validates his party’s long-standing warnings about a lack of oversight.

A Clash Over Executive Intentions

The administrative dispute has evolved into a political critique of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Feijóo linked the lack of controls to the leadership of the head of government, claiming the PP was right to question Sánchez’s decency.

He asserted that it is irresponsible not to doubt the intentions of the executive given previous actions. For Feijóo, the stakes are high. He described the Spanish passport as the most important title Spain can grant to any person in the world, vowing that the PP will continue to demand rigor before such documents are issued.

The Battle Over Electoral Distribution

At the heart of the JEC’s intervention is a lack of documentation. The board is targeting the absence of evidence explaining why certain applicants are registered in specific municipalities.

According to the JEC text, registration must either result directly from the last residence in Spain or be supported by a motivated explanation. This allows the board to verify that applicable criteria have been met.