Just a few days before the general elections on November 29, the Popular Party (PP) led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo presented its electoral program "National Reconstruction," an 82-page document featuring 249 measures that would transform the living conditions and access to nationality for over 287,000 registered Cubans in Spain.
The migration block, analyzed by the specialized portal Infomigrante, addresses four areas that directly affect the Cuban community: arraigo, residence renewal, nationality, and the Grandchildren's Law. These are electoral proposals, not current regulations, and their implementation would depend on whether the PP forms a government and the reforms pass constitutional and European scrutiny.
"Exceptional" residency
Point 42 of the program states that they will prohibit "by law mass and indiscriminate regularizations, and the right of establishment will be exceptional," redefining it as "an exceptional individual recognition, not a generalized pathway for regularization."
The Ministry of Inclusion stated in June 2026 that family ties accounted for 45% of active authorizations and socio-labor connections for 33%. A specific breakdown for Cubans is not provided.
The program does not specify which modalities it would eliminate or maintain, it does not set new deadlines, and it does not clarify what would happen to the applications already submitted. It also does not explicitly state that it will revoke previously granted authorizations.
Point 98 adds that certain aids would prioritize those who demonstrate a "real, durable, and verifiable connection" —such as registration, contributions, and length of residence— without relying "exclusively on nationality."
Renew the residence and points-based visas
Point 43 of the PP program proposes that foreigners wishing to renew their temporary residence under the general regime must sign a commitment to integration, which would include learning Spanish, understanding the Constitution and the values of the European Union, and, when applicable, receiving job training.
Compliance would need to be verified to renew the permit. This measure is not aimed at all foreign residents in Spain, but specifically at those renewing temporary residence authorizations under the general regime.
The program also proposes implementing point-based permits and annual quotas to regulate the entry of foreign workers into Spain. These would be reviewed based on unemployment rates, unfilled positions, and the capacity of public services, with two pathways: a signed contract in the country of origin or a temporary visa to search for employment in Spain.
A more demanding nationality
Points 140 to 143 announce a new Nationality Law. The aim is for it to respond to "an effective bond with Spain" and not be "an almost automatic consequence of the passage of time." Feijóo summarized in July: "The passport must be earned."
The enhanced requirements would include legal and continuous residency, knowledge of Spanish and institutions, good civic conduct, absence of criminal records, and compliance with tax obligations.
The program does not set new residency deadlines and maintains a "preferential treatment for Hispanic countries." It also proposes to regulate the loss of nationality for non-original Spaniards with a final conviction for serious crimes, preventing statelessness.
The Grandchildren's Law: the greatest uncertainty
The most sensitive point for Cubans is the repeal of the Democratic Memory Law, which the PP wants to replace with a Law of Concord. The "Grandchildren's Law" is the eighth additional provision of that legislation.
The Spanish Consulate in Havana had over 137,700 pending applications by mid-2026, and it is estimated that between 300,000 and 350,000 Cubans started their applications since October 2022.
If the PP were to repeal the law, the fate of those cases would depend on the transitional provisions of the new regulation: they would not be automatically canceled, but the legal uncertainty is real. The program does not specify what would happen with ongoing procedures. For those who have already been granted citizenship, there is no proposal for revocation.
The Supreme Court rejected on November 9 the request to extend the precautionary suspension of electoral rights to adult children of those naturalized under the Grandchildren's Law. However, on November 11, it accepted a motion for reconsideration filed by Iustitia Europa against that decision and granted a deadline until November 15 to submit arguments.
The controversy potentially affects a group of 189,678 people registered as Spanish under Annex III, including descendants of beneficiaries of the legislation from 2007. However, it is unclear how many are listed in the overseas electoral roll and could be impacted by the suspension of voting.
Polls place the PP as the favorite for the elections on November 29. The electoral tracking by 40dB, published on November 13 by EL PAÍS and Cadena SER, estimates that PP and Vox would together secure 190 seats, 14 more than the 176 needed to reach an absolute majority in the Congress of Deputies.
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