First job for Spain’s next PM is to learn English

ALBERTO NUNEZ FEIJOO, Spain’s conservative prime minister in waiting, says he is learning English as he prepares to take power.

Mr Feijoo appears on course to become Spain’s next leader after a clear win for his Popular Party (PP) over Pedro Sanchez, the country’s Left-wing prime minister, in local and regional elections last week.

Spain’s likely next leader has vowed to repeal his predecessor’s most socially liberal policies, including a law allowing anyone over the age of 16 to freely change their official gender, with younger children also able to do so with the oversight of a court.

But first he intends to work on his English, he revealed in his first television interview after Sunday’s surprise election victory. “My problem is English… I have to start studying it,” said Mr Feijoo, 61. “I already had an English teacher set up to start learning on Monday, but now it turns out I’ve been called to a general election. Well, no problem.”

On the campaign trail last month, Mr Feijoo went viral after he was caught on camera mispronouncing Bruce Springsteen’s name, calling the rock legend “Bruce Sprinter” during a party rally.

He brushed off suggestions that his language skills might pose a problem as prime minister, however. “International summits normally have translators, and what’s most important is that I know what I want to say,” he said.

Mr Feijoo has largely stayed quiet on the policies he would pursue once in power, instead capitalising on fatigue with Mr Sanchez’s style of government.