Spanish premier defiant as far-right surges in elections
PEDRO SÁNCHEZ, the Spanish prime minister, yesterday vowed to defend democracy and Europe after the shock election surge of the far-right party Vox, which means it is now kingmaker in the country’s most populous region.
The five-year-old Eurosceptic antiimmigration party emerged from political anonymity to win 12 seats out of 109 in the Andalusian election on Sunday, the first time it has made inroads into a regional parliament.
The surprise result – the first such achievement by a far-right party since the end of the Franco dictatorship four decades ago – rattled the Socialist government in Madrid.
Mr Sánchez vowed to “defend the constitution and democracy against fear”. His government would continue working on a “pro-european project” for Spain, he said on Twitter.
Vox’s wins almost certainly mean an end to the Socialist PSOE’S rule.
Neither a coalition between the PSOE, which sunk to its lowest ever victory margin with 33 seats, and Leftwing Podemos, nor a conservative alliance between the Popular Party (PP) and centre-right Ciudadanos, can now muster a majority. But they have differing viewpoints on a kingmaker party with policies that include the mass expulsion of illegal immigrants, banning abortion and repealing legislation that protects women from violence.
Susana Díaz, acting Andalusian president, pleaded with other moderate political forces to unite with her.
Both PP and Ciudadanos have seized on the prospect of turfing the Socialists out of power. But while the PP said it would accept the support of Vox to take office, Ciudadanos was reticent. Francisco Serrano, Vox’s chief candidate in Andalusia, hinted the party would support a centre-right coalition.