Pro-Israel Advocate Tapped as Opposition's No. 2 for Spanish Elections

With Spanish general elections set for November 29, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has appointed Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo as the second candidate on the People's Party (PP) list for Madrid. Feijóo, who is vying for the premiership, announced the decision on Thursday, October 22. Borja Sémper, the party's national spokesperson, will be third on the list.

Álvarez de Toledo is a prominent figure known for her strong pro-Israel stance and opposition to the policies of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, particularly concerning Israel and the Gaza war. She has been a vocal critic of the Spanish government's decision to recognize a Palestinian state in May 2024 and its implementation of restrictive measures against Israel.

In a notable speech on October 7, 2025, marking the second anniversary of Hamas's attacks on Israel, Álvarez de Toledo strongly criticized the government's proposal for an arms embargo against Israel. She argued that the timing was symbolic and accused the government of downplaying Hamas's role in initiating the Gaza conflict. She also contested the use of the term "genocide" to describe Israeli military operations, while acknowledging Palestinian civilian suffering and stating that Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu should be held accountable.

During her speech, she drew a historical parallel to the Warsaw Ghetto, questioning colleagues to imagine Adolf Hitler considering the liberation of Jews from the ghetto and entrusting them with the city's administration. Álvarez de Toledo further accused the Sánchez government of exploiting the Palestinian cause for electoral gain and diverting attention from corruption allegations involving its political circle.