# Sánchez and Feijóo Clash Over Catalan Votes Before November 29 Election Catalonia emerges as the decisive battleground as candidates mobilize voters for the upcoming general election. - **Source:** [El Mundo – Portada](https://www.elmundo.es) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b5e64681-06e7-4e49-8f0a-6f6cf8fd807a ## Catalonia's Pivotal Electoral Role Catalonia remains the critical battleground for the November 29 general election. In 2023, 40 of 48 Catalan deputies supported Pedro Sánchez, securing his tenure. Alberto Núñez Feijóo narrowly missed a governing majority, falling short by just 3,509 votes in Lérida and 285 in Gerona, highlighting the region's immense strategic importance. ## Mobilization Against Right-Wing Wave Pedro Sánchez is campaigning on a platform of mass mobilization to prevent a government shift. He frames the election as a defense against a global right-wing surge, citing the political trajectories of Donald Trump, Javier Milei, and Benjamin Netanyahu. Sánchez warns that a victory for Feijóo and Abascal represents a dangerous regression. ## Constitutional and Social Promises To secure his base, Sánchez has pledged significant constitutional reforms, including the protection of abortion rights and guaranteed pension revaluations linked to the IPC. He also promises annual increases to the Minimum Wage. These commitments are presented as a bulwark against the potential dismantling of social rights by a future right-wing administration. ## The Urda Railway Tragedy The recent Urda railway accident, which resulted in 69 fatalities, has become a contentious campaign issue. Sánchez deflected responsibility by blaming the Popular Party for insufficient infrastructure investment during their previous tenure. He argued that reversing these historical budget cuts has been a slow process, framing the tragedy as a failure of past policies. ## International Rhetoric and Sovereignty Sánchez emphasizes national sovereignty, declaring that Spanish governance should be decided in Spain rather than Washington, Argentina, or Israel. He positions himself as a global leader against the 'ultraright international,' contrasting his policies with those of Trump. He claims his administration acts as a beacon against global conflicts like the Gaza genocide. ## PP and Vox Alliance Dynamics Salvador Illa, President of the Generalitat, highlighted that the PP has withdrawn Senate candidates in Tarragona, Gerona, and Guipúzcoa as part of a strategic pact with Vox. This alliance is being used by the Socialists to characterize the PP as surrendering to extremist influence, aiming to consolidate moderate and progressive voter support. ## Basque Country Strategic Importance In Bilbao, the PSOE gathered over 2,000 supporters, aiming to replicate their 2023 success where they secured nearly 292,000 votes. Patxi López emphasized the party's resilience, leveraging a 'dual vote' strategy that attracts supporters from PNV and EH Bildu. The party seeks to maintain this momentum to ensure a broad, progressive majority nationwide. ## The Upcoming General Strike A general strike is scheduled for November 11, focusing on the rising cost of living and housing evictions. While Sánchez supports the cause, Xavier García Albiol of the PP labels the strike a political maneuver designed to benefit the PSOE. The outcome of this protest could significantly influence voter turnout on November 29. ## Sources covering this story - [El Mundo – Portada — Sánchez and Feijóo Battle for Decisive Catalan Votes Ahead of Election](https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2026/11/08/6aef6799e85ece1d568b457d.html) - [El Mundo – Portada — Pedro Sánchez Pledges Constitutional Reforms to Secure Social Rights](https://www.elmundo.es/pais-vasco/2026/11/08/6af05b28e85eceb9318b457d.html) - [El Mundo – Portada — Sanchez Campaigns Against Right-Wing Wave Ahead of November 29 Elections](https://www.elmundo.es/elecciones/elecciones-generales/2026/11/07/6aef0e77e85ece96198b459b.html) - [Europa Press — Sanchez Pushes Pension Security and Minimum Wage Hikes in Campaign](https://www.europapress.es/euskadi/noticia-sanchez-insiste-blindar-pensiones-subir-smi-pide-votar-masa-llegar-mucho-mas-lejos-20261108133745.html) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._