The indicted socialist candidate who never loses elections in Extremadura

MadridThe snap election called in Extremadura for December 21st has handed Miguel Ángel Gallardo (Villanueva de la Serena, 1974) the opportunity to run in his first regional elections. The PSOE candidate has received the party's endorsement at the national level, despite facing trial for alleged malfeasance and influence peddling related to the hiring of David Sánchez, brother of the Spanish Prime Minister, at the Badajoz Provincial Council. During the investigation, Gallardo orchestrated the resignation of several members of the PSOE list in order to secure a seat in the regional parliament, gain parliamentary immunity, and have the case heard in the High Court of Justice of Extremadura.

In the last elections in this region, the PSOE, then led by Guillermo Fernández Vara – who died a few weeks ago from cancer – tied with the PP of María Guardiola, who formed a coalition with Vox and ousted the Socialists from the Extremadura regional government, each winning 28 seats. Gallardo faces the challenge of leading the PSOE back to victory and winning again himself, something he's used to. From 2003 to 2024, he was mayor of his hometown, Villanueva de la Serena, where he consistently won absolute majorities. "He's a skillful politician," explains an opposition politician who served alongside him in the town hall. He's not surprised that Gallardo is being prosecuted for alleged corruption in the hiring of Pedro Sánchez's brother, because he claims that's what Gallardo has always done. According to this politician, his way of winning elections has been by employing families in public sector jobs in exchange for their votes. When contacted by ARA, the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) of Villanueva de la Serena declined to comment.