New Alliance Between VOX and People’s Party Ahead of Elections

On Monday, Spain’s anti-mass migration VOX party joined forces with the center-right People’s Party (PP) to announce an electoral agreement ahead of the snap elections scheduled for November 29. The two parties agreed to avoid competition against each other in certain Senate races, aiming to enhance their chances of securing a strong right-wing majority in the Spanish Congress’s upper house.

According to details shared by both parties, this coalition seeks to curb the influence of the far-left and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), which is led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

VOX acknowledged that while the two parties have different political platforms, they are united in their desire to remove what they call Sánchez’s “criminal organization” from the country’s institutions.

In a video on social media, VOX’s secretary general Ignacio Garrica emphasized the significance of the approaching elections, indicating that Sánchez is determined to cling to power, describing it as an “attempt to assault all institutions with the help of extremists and radicals,” including the Senate.

In what they hope is a conciliatory move, VOX announced plans to withdraw Senate candidates in six constituencies while proposing a single candidate for another 14 constituencies. They expressed hope that this gesture would be reciprocated by other opposition parties. Notably, VOX will not withdraw any candidates for the Lower House.

“This is something we’ve always said,” Garrica remarked, stressing their shared goal of removing Sánchez’s organization from institutions, highlighting it as their main concern.

Miguel Tellado, the secretary general of the People’s Party, confirmed their cooperation with VOX’s agreement, stating that the PP will also withdraw Senate candidates in three constituencies. In those areas where VOX steps back, the PP will field independent candidates nominated by VOX. According to reports, VOX will present a singular candidate across the 14 Spanish provinces involved.

Tellado elaborated that voters from both parties will have options. “PP voters can choose any three PP candidates, while VOX supporters will get to pick their candidate along with two from the PP,” he explained.

Tellado insisted that this understanding is beneficial for Spain, emphasizing that halting the leftist advance is a priority for both parties.

Celebrating their collaboration, VOX shared on social media that they welcomed the common goal of preventing the far left from dominating the Senate, noting the PP’s withdrawal of candidates in specified regions.

Unnamed sources familiar with the agreement suggest that the collaboration could enable VOX and the PP to collectively secure between 125 to 140 Senate seats out of 209, potentially establishing a three-fifths right-wing majority.

Prime Minister Sánchez criticized this alliance, claiming the two parties are essentially the same. In a social media video, he referenced a study that suggests some people struggle to differentiate between shades of blue and green, likening that to VOX and PP’s similarities.

“They’ve tried to convince us they have vastly different agendas, but their actions speak otherwise. They act and vote similarly,” Sánchez stated. “With this joint candidacy for the Senate, they’ve shown their unified agenda.”

Responding to Sánchez’s assertions, VOX leader Santiago Abascal, in a morning interview, argued that following Sánchez’s reasoning, the Prime Minister shares a similar stance with far-left and extremist groups. He pressed on the urgency of establishing a right-wing majority in the Senate, accusing leftist factions of attempting to gain control to manipulate the nation’s Constitutional Tribunal.

According to Spain’s constitution, achieving a three-fifths majority in the Senate is necessary for appointing four justices to the country’s top court.