SEVILLE (Reuters) – Spain’s new opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo pledged to turn the page on confrontational politics and foster inclusive dialogue on Saturday in his maiden speech after being overwhelmingly elected to the leader of the People’s Party.

A calm and experienced moderate with a pragmatic outlook, he said he would fight to bring the right-wing party back to power and warned it would not be child’s play.

‘Moderation is not about being lukewarm and dialogue is not about submission,’ he said after being elected leader with 98.3% of the vote at a two-day party congress in Seville .

After 13 years of governing Galicia in northwestern Spain with an impressive record of four absolute majorities, the party hopes the 60-year-old can translate his regional success to the national level.

“Enough of heated debate and confrontation, enough of creating problems, there are already so many…Let’s put an end to these futile debates and face the real problems,” Feijoo told delegates.

“I am not here to insult (Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez) but to beat him.”

European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, a guest at the congress, said he has full confidence in Feijoo.

“Alberto knows the way to victory very well because if there’s one thing he knows, it’s winning elections,” he said in fluent Spanish.

The Spanish Prime Minister congratulated Feijoo on his appointment, tweeting: “In these complex times, working with unity and responsibility for the common good must be a priority for all.” The Galician leader was the only candidate in the running to succeed Pablo Casado, ousted following a bitter internal dispute with one of the rising stars of the party.