The Olympic champions Cristian Toro and Ángela Pumariega, the actor "Patxi Freytez" or the painter Antonio López are part of the group of figures from the fields of culture, art and sport who have been included in the candidacies for the Congress and the Senate registered by the parties for the general elections of 29N.
The incorporation of references from civil society into politics is a recurring phenomenon in the different electoral appointments and the early general elections of this year follow that same pattern.
In this election, the general trend is for these profiles to occupy positions far from the first places on the lists, so that their role is focused on making visible their support for a certain party. However, there are also some cases located in eligible positions, with real chances of winning a seat.
An Olympic champion leads the PP list for Asturias
On this occasion, the PP has chosen an Olympic sailing champion from the London 2012 Games to head its candidacy for Asturias for the Congress. This is Ángela Pumariega, current deputy mayor of Gijón and councilor for Economic Promotion, Tourism, Commerce and Innovation.
"Who better than a regatta sailor who won an Olympic gold to set course for first place in the elections of November 29?", the PP highlighted on its social networks, thus underscoring the sporting profile of its leading candidate, who will continue to combine her functions in the Gijón City Council with parliamentary activity in the Lower House.
It is not new for the PP to turn to athletes for its candidacies. In 2019, the then leader of the party, Pablo Casado, chose former athlete Ruth Beitia as the PP candidate for the Presidency of Cantabria. Before that, the judoka Miriam Blasco, Olympic champion in Barcelona 1992; the long-distance runner Abel Antón, double marathon world champion; the also judoka Isabel Fernández, Olympic gold; or the former athlete Marta Domínguez had already made the leap into politics.
Another Olympic champion on the Vox list for Madrid
For its part, Vox places as "number 5" of its candidacy for the Congress for Madrid the Olympic champion Cristian Toro, current national spokesperson for Sports of Vox and councilor in the City Council of Madrid.
He achieved the gold at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games in the K2 200-meter canoeing event alongside Saúl Craviotto. Throughout his sporting career he accumulated four world runner-up finishes and two European champion titles. In 2016 he was recognized with the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit.
Linked to sport since childhood, he developed a high-level international career until his retirement in 2024, after almost twenty years devoted to canoeing. In addition, he came to participate in the program "Mujeres, hombres y viceversa" on Telecinco.
An actor heads the Podemos list for the Senate
On the Podemos lists for Congress in Madrid, at number eleven appears the journalist, screenwriter and writer Ana Delgado, known as "Anita Botwin". She has collaborated with various media outlets and is the author of the book "Pies de elefante", where she recounts her experience with multiple sclerosis.
Another striking signing by Podemos, in this case for the Senate, is that of the actor Francisco Freytez Pérez, professionally known as "Patxi Freytez", who heads the candidacy of the "morados" in Madrid.
In his filmography, his roles in "A los que aman" (1998), by Isabel Coixet, and "Todo sobre mi madre" (1999), by Pedro Almodóvar, stand out. He was also part of the cast of the series "Ellas son así" and achieved great popularity as Mikel Miralles in "El comisario". Later he appeared in the miniseries "El padre de Caín", where he played Sergeant Delgado, and in two seasons of "La Caza", in addition to other work in film and theater.
The painter Antonio López, symbolic closing of Frente Amplio
The candidacies of Frente Amplio for Madrid include in the closing positions, of a symbolic nature and which usually reflect merely testimonial support, the painter and sculptor Antonio López, one of the great names of realism and hyperrealism in Spanish contemporary art.
His presence on electoral lists is not unprecedented, since he also closed the 2024 European candidacy of Recortes Cero, one of the formations integrated into the coalition led by the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau.
Among his best-known works are the hyperrealist portrait "La familia de Juan Carlos I", the sculptures "Día y Noche" at Atocha station in Madrid or the painting "Membrillero", whose creation gave rise to the documentary "El sol del membrillo", directed by Víctor Erice.
At the same time, the leading candidate of Frente Amplio for Congress for the constituency of Málaga is the lawyer and activist of the Gaza support flotilla Rafael Borrego, who recently was the victim of an attempted assault during a visit to Ceuta.
A pelotari in Bildu and a writer in the BNG
In the case of Bildu, the writer and feminist activist Kattalin Miner Perez appears as first substitute in the candidacy for Congress for Guipúzcoa. Author of several novels in Euskera, one of his best-known titles is "Moio: Era imposible esconderlo", which addresses the suicide of a trans young man.
Another singular profile is that of Ihart Arakistain Muñoz, professional pelotari of the Basque Selection, who occupies the position of second substitute on Bildu's list for Congress for Vizcaya.
The BNG has also looked to the literary sphere to prepare its lists for Congress and includes as an independent in number five for the constituency of Coruña the writer Alberto Lema.
Lema is one of the standout voices of Galician literature in both poetry and narrative, with titles such as "Plan de fuga" or "Sidecar".