Pedro Sanchez has hit out at opposition leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo over his comments on teenage abortion rights and plans to abolish the Equality Ministry.
The prime minister challenged the Partido Popular leader’s feminist credentials in a message posted on X shortly after his interview with Cadena SER on Friday.
‘Feijoo is such a feminist that he proposes scrapping the Equality Ministry and curtailing women’s right to decide over their own bodies,’ Sanchez wrote.
‘Growing up among women does not make you a feminist. Defending their rights does.’
Feijoo later hit back on X, telling Sanchez to spare him ‘lectures on feminism’ in a post listing a series of accusations.
‘Prostitutes paid for with public money. Flats for lovers. Orgies during the pandemic. Harassers in Moncloa. A political career funded by prostitution money,’ he wrote.
The spat followed Feijoo’s claim that his upbringing demonstrated his commitment to feminism.
‘How could I not be a feminist when I grew up with far more women than men?’ the PP leader asked during the interview.
‘How could I not consider myself a feminist at this age and with this democratic outlook throughout my life?’
The exchange came after Feijoo questioned whether 16-year-olds should be able to have an abortion without their parents’ knowledge.
He called for debate about how to handle disagreements within families, although he did not outline a detailed legislative proposal.
Feijoo also said no woman should feel compelled to terminate a pregnancy for financial reasons.
Government spokesperson Elma Saiz joined the criticism, accusing the PP of challenging established women’s rights while pursuing agreements with Vox.
‘The latest is that Mr Feijoo calls himself a feminist when the Partido Popular is making agreements with a party that denies gender-based violence, namely Vox, the far right,’ she said.
During the same interview, Feijoo confirmed that a PP government would reform Spain’s euthanasia law, arguing that stronger medical safeguards were needed.
He stopped short of committing to repeal it, saying he agreed with the concept of dying with dignity.
The opposition leader also left the door open to governing with Vox after the November 29 general election, saying he would act according to the result delivered by voters.
