Madrid – The People’s Party (PP) is seeking a firm commitment from Vox to approve four years of regional budgets as a condition for governing agreements across Spain, signaling a more assertive approach to negotiations with the far-right party. This move comes as the PP attempts to solidify its position following recent electoral gains and navigate complex coalition talks, particularly in regions where neither party holds a majority.
The PP’s national leadership, under Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has drafted a “unique, binding, and nationwide” framework for negotiations with Vox in autonomous communities, according to reports. The document, comprised of ten points, aims to establish a consistent approach to securing stability and implementing the PP’s agenda. The demand for budgetary approval throughout the entire legislative term is central to this strategy, intended to ensure governmental stability and prevent repeated political uncertainty.
This new strategy reflects a lack of confidence in the ability of regional PP leaders to effectively negotiate with Vox, particularly in Extremadura, where talks have stalled. The PP’s national leadership will now directly participate in negotiations with Vox for the investitures of María Guardiola (Extremadura) and Jorge Azcón (Aragón), and potentially in Castile and León and Andalusia as well. This intervention marks an unprecedented level of oversight by Feijóo over regional leaders, according to sources within the party.
The framework emphasizes the importance of respecting the division of powers between the central government and the autonomous communities, a point of contention that arose in Aragón, where Vox reportedly sought agreements on matters outside of regional jurisdiction, such as riverbed maintenance. The PP also insists on “programmatic coherence,” meaning that any agreements will expand upon, but not contradict, the promises made during the election campaigns.
Key Areas of Agreement Outlined
The document identifies several priority areas for agreement with Vox, including tax cuts, reducing bureaucracy, supporting farmers and ranchers, opposing climate policies, addressing housing issues and illegal squatting, immigration policy, promoting birth rates, education, rejecting violence, and supporting youth, and healthcare. These areas align with Vox’s core tenets, suggesting potential for compromise, though details remain crucial.
The PP is signaling a willingness to address Vox’s concerns regarding climate policy, having already accepted a demand from Vox in the Valencian Community to denounce the European Green Deal, a move made by Juanfran Pérez Llorca to secure his investiture. Similarly, the PP shares concerns with Vox regarding irregular immigration, stating that “irregular immigration has reached intolerable levels” and advocating for stricter border controls and increased deportations.
However, the framework remains silent on the contentious issue of accommodating unaccompanied foreign minors, a point that previously led to the collapse of regional governments involving the PP. While some regional PP leaders, like Jorge Azcón of Aragón, pledged to comply with the law regarding these minors during the campaign, this stance clashes with Vox’s demands for stricter restrictions.
Addressing Violence and Women’s Rights
A potentially sensitive area of negotiation lies in the language surrounding violence, with the PP document explicitly condemning “all forms of violence,” including political, terrorist, and “machista” violence. This contrasts with Vox’s denial of gender-based violence and previous attempts to replace the term “machista” with “domestic” or “intrafamilial” violence, a move seen as minimizing the specific issue of violence against women. A similar disagreement arose during the investiture of Carlos Mazón in the Valencian Community, where Vox successfully pushed for the leverage of “intrafamilial violence” in the agreement.
On issues related to women’s rights, the PP document also indicates a willingness to align with Vox by opposing “traditions or beliefs that justify practices that oppress women,” and reiterating support for banning the burqa and niqab, a position recently affirmed through a joint initiative in Congress.
Housing and Illegal Occupation
Both the PP and Vox share a focus on combating illegal squatting, advocating for “express eviction, null registration in occupied homes, and full legal security for owners and tenants.” The PP also proposes a “supply shock” to address housing affordability, emphasizing increased land availability, streamlined urban planning processes, and tax benefits for young homebuyers.
The PP’s move to centralize negotiations reflects a desire to present a unified front and avoid regional variations in agreements with Vox. The success of this strategy remains to be seen, as the details of the negotiations and Vox’s willingness to compromise will ultimately determine whether stable governing coalitions can be formed. The coming weeks will be critical as the PP attempts to translate this framework into concrete agreements and secure its position in key autonomous communities.
As negotiations progress, the focus will be on whether the PP can maintain its commitment to its core principles while addressing Vox’s demands. The outcome of these talks will not only shape the political landscape of several regions but also provide insight into the future of the relationship between these two key parties in Spanish politics.
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