In the gardens next to the convent of San Domingos de Bonaval in Santiago de Compostela, where the Pantheon of Illustrious Galicians is located, the president of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda, has sworn in after the regional elections that the PP won in February with an absolute majority. Rueda chose this symbolic location much like the first popular president of Galicia, Gerardo Fernández Albor, did 42 years ago. Present at the event were two historic figures of the PP, Mariano Rajoy and José Manuel Romay Beccaría, mentor of Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who also participated. Rueda proclaimed, after taking his oath of office, that he was taking office as the first servant of Galicia to contribute his modest grain of sand to the great task that others initiated and will continue. He pledged to govern with honesty, humility, perseverance, responsibility, enthusiasm, passion, and a sense of service, emphasizing the “Galician style” of governance characterized by stability, moderation, and common sense.
Rueda also expressed his commitment to working with other autonomous communities and defended the unity of the country, stating that they will defend what is theirs without overtaking others, but also not allowing themselves to fall behind. He promised to be an unwavering ally to those who defend the common principles of autonomy and unity, warning that those who seek to disrupt these principles will always find opposition from him. Following a half-hour delay due to parking issues that affected the arrival of guests, Rueda entered the Bonaval park accompanied by the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, and the head of the Galician Legislature, Miguel Santalices, who read the Royal Decree of appointment. Rueda, the sixth president of the autonomy, then took his oath of office. Prior to the ceremony, he and the three former living presidents of the Xunta, Fernando González Laxe and Emilio Pérez Touriño from the Socialist Party, and Feijóo, laid flowers at the tombs of celebrities in the Pantheon of Illustrious Galicians.
During his inauguration speech, Rueda emphasized that he is a humble and sincere servant of Galicia, becoming emotional at the memory of his deceased father. Among the attendees at the event were representatives of the Spanish PP, opposition spokespeople in the Galician Parliament, and guests from the political, cultural, and social spheres of Galicia, as well as regional presidents such as Adrián Barbón of Asturias, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco of Castilla y León, Jorge Azcón of Aragón, and Fernando López Miras of Murcia, all from the PP. Minister Óscar Puente expressed the government’s collaboration and institutional loyalty to Rueda, highlighting the importance of cooperation between different administrations in a democratic, multi-level state. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the former president of the Xunta, praised Galicia’s majority rule under the PP as a model to be emulated across Spain, emphasizing stability, unity, and a citizen-focused agenda.
Feijóo believes that Galicia’s successful governance can serve as a example for other regions, particularly Catalonia and the Basque Country, encouraging reflection on a pragmatic, decent, and principled approach to politics. He highlighted the importance of a government that governs and a parliament that legislates, emphasizing the need for stability, social unity, and a focus on citizens’ priorities. Feijóo expressed pride in the PP and the people of Galicia for their clear and determined support for stability and unity, asserting that the region is protected from political paralysis and minority rule due to the resolute decision-making of its citizens. Overall, Feijóo emphasized that Galicia is a place where people have a say and make decisions with determination.
