The far-right VOX party will be part of the government of the Spanish region of Extremadura, in coalition with the Popular Party (PP), following the May 28 autonomous elections, the two political forces announced this Friday.
The two parties reached a similar agreement on June 13 for the regional government of the Valencian Community and have been together in the executive branch of Castile and León since 2022.
In Extremadura, PP and VOX reached an agreement that guarantees the people’s presidency of the regional government, despite the fact that the Socialist Party (PSOE) received the most votes in the elections.
VOX, on the other hand, will be responsible for forest management and the rural world, according to a statement from the two parties, who say that the “programmatic agreement” in Extremadura includes 60 measures “focused on the priorities of families in Extremadura and on combating unemployment, poverty, the lack of of opportunity and depopulation”.
In the case of the Valencian Community and Castile and León, VOX assumed the vice-presidency of the regional governments, among other portfolios in the executive branch and the presidency of the autonomous parliaments.
The agreement announced today embodies a withdrawal by the leader of the PP in Extremadura, María Guardiola, who will be the president of the regional government.
Last week, María Guardiola said she would not allow the VOX party in the regional government, “which denies sexist violence”, which “dehumanizes immigrants” and “throws the LGBTI flag in the trash” [símbolo da luta contra a descriminação com base na orientação sexual]”.
“I believe in an inclusive, modern, respectful, permeable, solidarity and responsible Extremadura and I believe in an Extremadura where love allows no nuances,” he said 10 days ago.
Guardiola initially received support from PP national leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who later urged her to reach a “quick” deal for a change in Extremadura, a region on the border with Portugal (with Beira Interior and Alentejo), which was led by socialists.
After the elections of 28 May last, PP and VOX also reached an agreement to govern the People’s Party in the Balearic Islands, with the abstention of deputies from the far-right party, which in this case will not join the autonomous executive.
Negotiations between the two sides continue to make it possible for the PP governments in Aragon and Murcia.
In some cases, VOX, with agreements with the PP, has already secured the presidency of regional parliaments, as happened in Aragon and the Balearic Islands.
With the victory of the right and the advance of the extreme right in the May 28 municipal and regional elections, the Spanish Prime Minister, the socialist Pedro Sánchez, called early national parliaments for July 23.
The pre-election campaign has been dominated by the PP’s agreements with VOX and, in the past week, by the statements and profiles of people the far-right party has elected to chair the various regional parliaments or the government of the Valencian government . Community, that is vaccine and climate change deniers, anti-abortion activists or those who say gender violence does not exist.
The polls for the July 23 national elections give the PP the victory without an absolute majority, which it could achieve with a deal with VOX.
Source: DN
