Andalusia's Junta president, Juanma Moreno, announced Parliament's dissolution and regional elections for May 17, advancing the date initially set for June. The move follows a full four-year term, unseen in 14 years, aiming to boost turnout by avoiding events like the Pope's visit. PSOE candidate María Jesús Montero will leave her role as Spain's first deputy prime minister to focus on the campaign.
Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, president of Andalusia's Junta, appeared on streaming at 20:30 on Monday, March 23, 2026, to announce regional elections on May 17. After an extraordinary Council of Government meeting, he called the date 'ideal to facilitate maximum participation', dodging the Pope's Madrid visit (June 6-9) and Rocío pilgrimage (May 22-25). 'Voting every four years with the legislature completed and budgets presented is democratic normality', Moreno stated, noting 64 laws passed and political stability since 2018, when PP ended 36 years of socialist rule. The campaign starts April 30, calling 6.5 million voters in a region of 8.5 million residents. Polls favor PP (near absolute majority of 55 out of 109 seats), with Vox rising and PSOE at historic lows below 2022's 30 seats. Moreno seeks an 'unquestionable victory' to avoid deadlocks. PSOE-A's deputy secretary general María Jesús Montero reacted on X: 'The sooner the better, Andalusia needs a government that solves problems. We like May 17: there's a date for change!'. She blamed Moreno's call on health crisis and fear of PSOE rebound. The announcement forces her exit from Spain's central executive, sparking speculation on replacements like Félix Bolaños or Carlos Cuerpo. Vox declared readiness for 'common sense' policies, while Antonio Maíllo (Por Andalucía) criticized Moreno's health management.
