Alberto Núñez Feijóo and the Partido Popular are proposing a hardline legal reform that would allow the Spanish government to revoke citizenship from foreign-born nationals convicted of serious crimes.
Proposed Legal Reform Targets Serious Criminal Convictions
The proposed legislation, structured as an organic law rather than a standard civil code provision, would introduce mechanisms to strip citizenship from naturalized citizens who commit major offenses. According to party sources cited by El Mundo, targeted crimes include murder, sexual assault, participation in organized crime, and membership in terrorist organizations, alongside patterns of severe legal recidivism.
Under current Spanish law, as detailed by the Ministry of Justice, the loss of nationality for individuals born abroad is strictly limited to specific administrative infractions: utilizing a renounced foreign nationality for three years after acquisition, entering foreign military service or political office against state prohibition, or committing fraud and concealment during the naturalization process. The Popular Party’s proposal would dramatically expand these grounds, altering how naturalized status is maintained.
Stricter Language and Constitutional Requirements
Alongside punitive measures for criminal behavior, the conservative platform seeks to raise the barrier for entry. Reports indicate the proposed changes would require more rigorous language proficiency examinations and deeper testing on constitutional values. The guiding ethos behind the initiative relies on the principle that citizenship must be earned rather than granted automatically, shifting away from what party leadership has characterized as permissive passport issuance.
In July remarks addressing his political agenda, Feijóo stated that the era of easily acquired passports has concluded.
Political Context and Polling Dynamics
The policy proposal arrives amid intense political competition on the right, where the Popular Party aims to counter voter migration toward Vox. Polling data reflects a tightening contest on immigration rhetoric, with recent Center for Sociological Research (CIS) figures showing distinct shifts in voter intention as conservative parties emphasize border control and criminal justice reform.
Drafting a formal organic law requires legislative majority approval, meaning the realization of Feijóo’s proposal depends heavily on future electoral outcomes and potential coalition dynamics in the national parliament. As the debate continues across political circles, further legislative specifics are expected to emerge ahead of upcoming parliamentary sessions.
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