Feijóo mulls Badalona mayor Albiol as PP's Barcelona lead candidate

According to insiders, Alberto Núñez Feijóo is contemplating naming Badalona mayor Xavier García Albiol as the lead candidate for Barcelona in the upcoming 29-N general election, though a final decision has not been made. Albiol’s reputation for a hard-line message on security, illegal squatting, immigration and housing, combined with his absolute majority in Badalona, makes him attractive to the party’s strategists. However, officials are cautious that his participation in the general vote might weaken his municipal campaign for the 2027 local elections, where retaining the Badalona majority is crucial for the PP’s limited Catalan mayoral holdings.

Feijóo highlighted Albiol in September as an example of the PP breaking the traditional socialist-nationalist dominance in Catalunya and potentially drawing new voters in a national race. The party is also reviewing alternatives such as Nacho Martín Blanco, who may shift to the Barcelona municipal list, senator Juan Milián, and party secretary Juan Fernández.