Spain: pact between conservatives and far right
The conservative Partido Popular (PP) and the far-right Vox have agreed to present joint lists of candidates in a bid to secure a right-wing majority in the upper house of the Spanish parliament, the Senate, in the run-up to the general election. Under the deal, Vox will refrain from fielding its own candidates in 14 provinces and instead place an independent candidate on each of the PP's lists. In exchange, the PP will stand aside in three constituencies.
PP no longer sees Vox as toxic
La Vanguardia explains the PP's change of heart:
“PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has learned his lesson from 2023 [when he rejected a coalition with Vox and went into opposition]. His party has gone from clear rejection to active cooperation with Santiago Abascal's party. ... It is telling that three years on the PP no longer fears losing support because of its association with Vox: the rival has become an ally. ... The alliances forged at the regional level in recent months have become the norm, and the groundwork has been laid for a future cooperation within the Spanish government. This is the clearest takeaway from yesterday's agreement.”
Repurposing of regional representation body
El Periódico de Catalunya criticises the idea of electoral alliances on the right and left:
“The withdrawal of the [PP] Senate candidates in three provinces is a departure from one of the party's founding principles: that of presenting itself under the same name throughout Spain, with the exception of [the former Kingdom of] Navarre. Yet the PP is willing to make this sacrifice for the sake of winning the battle for the Senate. ... The 'understanding' between Vox and the PP mirrors the agreement between PSOE and [the left-wing coalition] Frente Amplio, which are running on a joint list for the Senate in 46 provinces. ... After almost 50 years of democracy, the parties now seem to have found a purpose for what was originally intended to be the body of territorial representation that reflected Spain's diversity.”
A country divided
El País observes a profound change in the Spanish political system:
“The pact is a response to the electoral alliance formed by PSOE and the [left-wing coalition] Frente Amplio. ... The aim is to establish an electoral alliance without precedent in Europe. Vox is no ordinary party because it does not uphold the fundamental constitutional consensus on either civic, political or territorial rights. ... Spain has entered an era of two opposing blocs. This is not what those who penned the constitution had intended.”