
Galicia irredenta[1] ("Unredeemed Galicia") orGalicia estremeira[2] ("Outer" or "External Galicia"), also spelled asGaliza irredenta[3] andGaliza estremeira[4] and also known asFaixa Leste[5] orFranxa Leste[6] ("Eastern Strip"), is a term used for allGalician-speaking territories located outside ofGalicia. These are all located inSpain, in eitherAsturias orCastile and León.[7][8] These territories are sometimes divided into three subregions:El Bierzo (O Bierzo in Galician),Eo-Navia (Eo-Navia in Galician) andAs Portelas (or Upper Sanabria,As Portelas orAlta Seabra in Galician).[9]
There have been several attempts from these territories to join Galicia. An example isPorto de Sanabria, a small village where, in 2018, a vote was organized to join to the region due to the lack of response from the government of Castile and León to requests from locals to fix a road. In total, 202 people voted in favor, 19 against and 6 did a blank vote. However, this vote did not intend any official change and was only made to know the inhabitants' opinion.[10]
Another example was El Bierzo, acomarca where more people prefer to join Galicia than stay in Castile and León. People have proposed turning it into a newprovince of Spain and joining it into Galicia.[11] This initiative became more serious when a request was sent in 2021 to theXunta de Galicia, asking to recognize El Bierzo as a new province of Galicia.[12] This proposal was rejected by the Spanish prominent partiesPP andPSOE.[13]