Spanish People’s party leader accused of sexism with ‘makeup’ jibe

Alberto Núñez Feijóo says female deputy PM ‘knows a lot about makeup’ as he queries employment figures at election rally

The leader of Spain’s conservative People’s party (PP), which is leading the polls before Sunday’s snap general election, has been accused of sexism after making a pointed reference to the deputy prime minister’s makeup during a campaign rally.

Speaking in Madrid on Thursday, Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Yolanda Díaz, who is also the labour minister, of massaging Spain’s employment figures, claiming that while the socialist-led coalition government was attempting to pass off workers on temporary contracts as being employees, “the truth lies in the embellished employment figures”.