Feijóo promises in Vigo not to pardon the corrupt, offers tax cuts and calls to "tear down Sánchez's wall": "I will make sure they pay for everything"

Alberto Núñez Feijóo promised this Saturday in Vigo that he will not pardon those convicted of corruption and called for the mobilization of the Galician PP to reach Moncloa on November 29. "I will make sure they pay for everything," he stated in a speech that combined attacks on Pedro Sánchez's government, new fiscal promises, and a defense of his trajectory leading the Xunta as a guarantee to govern Spain.

The Maritime Station gathered nearly 2,000 people in an event alongside Alfonso Rueda and the president of the PP of Vigo, Luisa Sánchez Méndez. Among the attendees was former Mexican president Felipe Calderón. Feijóo entered amidst greetings and hugs, with 'Hall of Fame' in the background and shouts of "president," before assuring that he has "more desire than ever" to reach the Government.

Corruption has occupied a central part of the speech. Feijóo has demanded that José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero explain to the judge the origin of the investigated jewels and apologize for "the lessons he wanted to give us and for the shame he makes us go through". He also mentioned Sánchez, José Luis Ábalos, Santos Cerdán, and Leire Díez, and attributed the early election to the judicial problems of the socialist circle. The criminal responsibilities of each person depend on what is proven in the proceedings and the decisions of the courts.

The popular candidate also condemned Wednesday's incidents in A Coruña, during the protest against an event by Santiago Abascal. "Do we also want the riots in France?" he asked, before accusing left-wing parties of inciting agitation in the streets. He supported assaulted police officers and journalists and defended a country where one can "disagree with words, but not with stones." His call to "shake hands again" coexisted with the accusation that "Sánchez's wall" feeds extremists.

Zero VAT, IRPF reductions and one million homes

Feijóo has presented tax cuts as a response to the rising cost of living. He has promised to deflate the IRPF, that is, to adjust its brackets to inflation to prevent a nominal salary increase from ending up raising the tax burden without an equivalent improvement in purchasing power. He has also announced improvements in the family minimum for those with children and measures aimed at middle and low incomes.

The package includes zero VAT on basic foodstuffs and electricity "as long as inflation lasts", as well as an exemption for self-employed workers who invoice less than 85,000 euros annually. This last proposal affects VAT and keeps other obligations separate, such as IRPF or contributions. The offer on electricity also needs to specify its fit within European rules, which delimit the goods and services to which zero rates can be applied.

In housing, he has reiterated the goal of promoting the construction of one million properties during the next legislature. To do this, he proposes modifying the land law and the horizontal property law, facilitating construction and strengthening the guarantees of owners. "We must increase supply for prices to fall," he defended. To this strategy he adds VAT reductions and property transfer tax reductions for young people's first homes, IRPF measures to facilitate entry and the elimination of taxes associated with the first purchase in rural areas.

The protection of property has been accompanied by his promise to evict occupants in 48 hours. "To squatters we are going to politely say: out in 48 hours," he stated. The scope of this commitment depends on the legal changes he promotes and the procedures applicable to each case. The occupation of a home and a conflict of rent non-payment have different legal treatments, and actions must respect judicial guarantees.

Galicia as endorsement and two more deputies as objective

"I have spent my whole life preparing to be president of the Government of Spain", Feijóo proclaimed, evoking Manuel Fraga and his years in the Xunta. The popular leader has claimed a Galicia that approves budgets and "works" in contrast to the situation of the central Executive. His autonomous trajectory allows him to present himself as a manager, a profile he tries to reinforce while hardening his discourse against Sánchez and competing with Vox for the right-wing vote.

The mobilization has a concrete goal. Feijóo has asked to win one more deputy in A Coruña and another in Pontevedra compared to 2023, when the PP obtained four and three seats, respectively. Pontevedra then ended with three popular deputies, three socialists, and one from Sumar. Improving these results would broaden the PP's margin in Congress, although the precedent of 2023 reminds us that winning elections and gathering support for an investiture are different objectives.

Rueda has asked to turn the Galician PP into "the engine" of change in Spain and has conveyed his support to the candidate. "You have the whole party with you," he told him. Both have demanded autonomous financing that they consider fair, while Feijóo has committed to reforming the system to distribute resources "among everyone." The candidate has also thanked the move of Galician officials to national lists, a strategy that involves the territorial organization in his campaign towards Moncloa.

The president of the Vigo PP has connected the general elections with the municipal elections in May. Luisa Sánchez has set Abel Caballero and the local PSOE as the next objective, after demanding improvements in railway connections, infrastructure, and the recognition of the port. "Our goal is to end the PSOE in the Government on 29N and end the PSOE in the city of Vigo next May," she stated.