Borja Sémper Pascual

Borja Sémper Pascual is a Spanish Partido Popular (PP) politician and the party’s spokesperson, serving in Congress for Gipuzkoa since 2023. Born in 1977, he has combined Basque and national politics with a long public profile in the centre-right.

Political career

Borja Sémper Pascual was born in 1977 and emerged in politics through the Basque branch of the PP, where he became one of its most visible younger figures during a period marked by intense political polarisation and violence linked to ETA. He built his career first in the Basque Parliament, where he served as a parliamentarian from 2001 to 2016. That long stint gave him experience in one of Spain’s most complex political arenas, where the PP historically occupied a difficult position because of its opposition to Basque nationalist parties and its association with the broader Spanish state project.

During those years, Sémper became known as a public-facing representative of the Basque PP, participating in debates on regional self-government, constitutional politics and security. His period in the chamber covered a major transition in Basque politics: the weakening and eventual disappearance of ETA’s armed activity, and the gradual normalisation of political competition in the Basque Country.

After leaving the Basque Parliament in 2016, he later returned to frontline institutional politics at the national level. In 2023, he was elected Member of the Congress of Deputies for Gipuzkoa, representing the PP in the lower house of the Spanish Parliament. In the same year, he was appointed spokesperson for the People’s Party, making him one of the key communicators of Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s national leadership. This role places him at the centre of the party’s day-to-day messaging, media response and political framing.

His career therefore spans two distinct levels: regional politics in the Basque Country and national politics in Madrid, with his trajectory shaped by both internal party work and highly public communication duties.

Relationship with the public

Sémper is generally regarded as one of the PP’s more media-friendly and articulate figures. He has cultivated a profile that goes beyond traditional party discipline, with a style often described as direct, calm and comparatively moderate. This has helped him connect with voters who may not identify strongly with party machinery but do respond to clear and measured political communication.

In the Basque Country, his public standing was formed in a politically sensitive environment in which the PP was often targeted by hostile rhetoric and, historically, by the climate of intimidation surrounding ETA. In that context, visibility itself carried political meaning, and Sémper developed a reputation for staying engaged in public debate despite adverse conditions.

At national level, his role as party spokesperson has increased his exposure to the media. He is frequently tasked with explaining or defending PP positions on a wide range of issues, which makes his relationship with journalists especially important. He is seen as someone capable of translating complex party messages into more accessible language, a quality valued by supporters and commentators alike. At the same time, like many spokespersons, he is also a figure through whom internal tensions and policy debates become visible.

Positions and political profile

Sémper is identified with the moderate, institutionally minded wing of the PP, particularly in relation to the party’s image in the Basque Country and at national level. He tends to defend constitutionalism, political stability and the role of mainstream centre-right politics within Spain’s parliamentary system. His public style has often been associated with moderation, nuance and a preference for political normalisation over confrontation.

He is also closely linked to the PP’s effort to project a more open and less strident image, especially in periods when the party seeks to broaden its appeal beyond its core electorate. His communication style is usually careful and structured, and he is often used by the party to convey messages that require a balanced tone.

A defining aspect of his political profile is his experience in the Basque context. That background gives him credibility on territorial and identity issues, especially when discussing the relationship between the Basque Country and the Spanish state. His time in the Basque Parliament also made him part of a generation of PP politicians shaped by the post-ETA political landscape.

Inside the party, he is generally perceived as a reliable communicator and a politician with strong institutional experience. Outside it, he is often viewed as one of the PP’s more moderate public faces, although he remains firmly aligned with the party’s core positions on national unity, constitutional order and opposition politics.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Borja Sémper Pascual? He is a Spanish PP politician, born in 1977, who currently serves as the party’s spokesperson and as a Member of the Congress of Deputies for Gipuzkoa.

What political party does he belong to? He belongs to the Partido Popular (PP), Spain’s main centre-right party.

What has Borja Sémper done in the Basque Parliament? He was a Basque parliamentarian from 2001 to 2016, representing the PP during a politically sensitive period in the Basque Country.

What is his role in the PP today? Since 2023, he has been the spokesperson for the People’s Party, one of the party’s most visible communication roles.

Is Borja Sémper considered a moderate figure? Yes. He is generally seen as one of the PP’s more moderate and institutional voices, especially in public communication and territorial राजनीति.

What issues is he most associated with? He is most associated with constitutional politics, party communication, Basque politics and the PP’s public image at national level.