People’s Party and Vox Gain Control in Spanish Municipal Elections
The results of the recent municipal elections in Spain have led to the People’s Party (PP) gaining control of 32 province capitals, including seven of the ten most populous cities. This has been made possible through alliances with the far-right party Vox, which will now be present in 140 municipal government teams. Vox has already announced its intention to eliminate “ideological departments such as those of Equality.”
Cities such as Xixón, Valladolid, Burgos, Toledo, Guadalajara, Ciudad Real, and Huelva, as well as municipalities like Elx, Talavera de la Reina, Níjar, and Ponferrada, now have PP mayors thanks to agreements with Vox. In the case of Naquera, the PP-Vox pact will result in the first mayoralty going to Vox. In Valencia, Castellón, Alicante, Palma, Ceuta, Seville, Albacete, Cáceres, and Segovia, where the PP had the most votes but not a simple majority, the party will govern alone but will need to rely on the support of Vox.
In Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida has been re-elected as mayor with an absolute majority of 29 councilors. However, Vox spokesman Javier Ortega Smith has extended his hand to “face the legislature without rollers.” Meanwhile, former president of the PP in Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, has downplayed the differences between the two parties on sexist violence, stating that the nominalist issue is not fundamental and that the unity of Spain is the most important.
In other cities such as Murcia, Córdoba, Uviéu, Santander, Logroño, Badajoz, Salamanca, Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, Almería, and Melilla, the PP will govern with an absolute majority.
On the other hand, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), which previously governed in 22 province capitals, has been left with only ten, including A Coruña, Lugo, Cuenca, Palencia, Soria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barcelona, Lleida, and Tarragona.
In Catalonia, the PSC has taken control of the mayorship in Barcelona after reaching an unexpected agreement with Barcelona en Comú and the PP. Jaume Collboni has been sworn in as the new mayor of Barcelona, closing the door to Xavier Trias of Together, who was finally supported by ERC. In Tarragona and Lleida, the PSC will govern in a minority, while in Girona, the mayorship will be held by Lluc Salellas of Let’s Win-CUP after an agreement with Junts and ERC.
In Galicia, the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) now governs in 32 councils, including Compostela, where Goretti Sanmartín has become the first woman to be sworn in as mayor. In Pontevedra, Miguel Anxo Fernández from the BNG will repeat as mayor in coalition with the PSOE. In A Coruña, Inés del Rey from the PSOE will continue as mayoress after an agreement with the BNG. In Lugo, Lara Méndez from PSdeG has managed to retain the mayoralty with the support of the BNG.
In the Basque Country, despite the walls and vetoes against EH Bildu, the party has gained 145 mayors, 21 more than four years ago. EH Bildu will govern for the first time in Andoain, Tolosa, and Zizurkil in Gipuzkoa, as well as in Bermeo, Alonsotegi, Plentzia, and Sopel in Bizkaia, and in Burlada in Nafarroa. The party will also continue to govern or repeat in cities such as Donostia, Bilbo, Zarautz, Elgoibar, Renteria, Azpeitia, Hernani, Zumaia, Bergara, Beasain, Tafalla, Berriozar, and Ansoain.
The rise of the PP has not had any effect in Euskal Herria, unlike in other regions of Spain. The PNV has retained the mayoralty of Donostia and Bilbo, while EH Bildu has been unseated in Gasteiz and Durango due to agreements between PNV, PSE, and PP. UPN has retained the mayoralty in Pamplona with the support of PSN.
The general coordinator of EH Bildu, Arnaldo Otegi, has criticized the alliances formed by PNV, PSE, PP, and Vox to prevent EH Bildu from accessing certain institutions. Otegi questions the political arguments used to justify these alliances and warns of the dangers they may pose in the future.The People’s Party (PP) has emerged as the winner in the recent municipal elections in Spain, securing the government of 32 province capitals, including seven of the ten most populous. This victory was made possible through alliances with the far-right party Vox, allowing Vox to be present in 140 municipal government teams. The PP has already announced its intention to eliminate “ideological departments such as those of Equality.”
Several cities, including Xixón, Valladolid, Burgos, Toledo, Guadalajara, Ciudad Real, and Huelva, now have PP mayors thanks to the agreements with Vox. Other municipalities such as Elx, Talavera de la Reina, Níjar, and Ponferrada have also seen the PP take control with the support of Vox. In Valencia, Castellón, Alicante, Palma, Ceuta, Seville, Albacete, Cáceres, and Segovia, where the PP was the party with the most votes but lacked a simple majority, the party will govern alone but will need to rely on the support of Vox.
In Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida has been re-elected as mayor with an absolute majority. However, Vox has extended its hand to “face the legislature without rollers.” The former president of the PP in Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, has downplayed the differences between the two parties on sexist violence, stating that the nominalist issue is not fundamental compared to the unity of Spain.
The Socialist Party (PSOE), which previously governed in 22 province capitals, has been left with only ten. These include A Coruña, Lugo, Cuenca, Palencia, Soria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barcelona, Lleida, and Tarragona.
In Catalonia, the PSC has taken control of the mayorship of Barcelona after reaching an unexpected agreement with Barcelona en Comú and the PP. Jaume Collboni has been sworn in as the new mayor of Barcelona, closing the door to Xavier Trias of Together, who was finally supported by ERC. In Tarragona and Lleida, the PSC will govern in a minority, while in Girona, the mayorship will be held by Lluc Salellas of Let’s Win-CUP.
In Galicia, the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) now governs in 32 councils, including Compostela. Goretti Sanmartín has become the first woman to be sworn in as mayor of the Galician capital. In Pontevedra, Miguel Anxo Fernández from the BNG will repeat as mayor in coalition with the PSOE. In A Coruña, Inés del Rey (PSOE) will continue as mayoress after an agreement with the BNG. In Lugo, Lara Méndez (PSdeG) has managed to retain the mayoralty with the support of the BNG.
In Euskal Herria, the rise of the PP has not had any effect. Despite the walls and vetoes against EH Bildu, the Basque sovereignist left has gained 145 mayors, 21 more than four years ago. EH Bildu will govern for the first time in Andoain, Tolosa, and Zizurkil (Gipuzkoa), Bermeo, Alonsotegi, Plentzia, and Sopel (Bizkaia), and in Burlada (Nafarroa). The party will also recover or repeat in cities such as Donostia, Zarautz, Elgoibar, Renteria, Azpeitia, Hernani, Zumaia, Bergara, Beasain, Tafalla, Berriozar, and Ansoain.
However, an agreement between PNV, PSE, and PP has prevented EH Bildu from gaining power in Gasteiz and Durango. The PSN’s abstention has favored UPN, which retains the mayorship of Pamplona.
EH Bildu’s general coordinator, Arnaldo Otegi, has criticized the alliance between PNV, PSE, PP, and UPN, stating that it is a “serious strategic error” that gives marginal parties more prominence and creates a climate that is not good for the country.
Overall, the municipal elections in Spain have resulted in significant changes in power dynamics, with the PP and its alliances with Vox gaining ground in several cities, while the PSOE and other left-wing parties have experienced losses. The rise of EH Bildu in Euskal Herria has also been notable, despite the obstacles it faced.
2) What criticisms have been raised regarding the alliances formed by the People’s Party, Vox, and other parties to secure mayoral positions
N a minority, while in Girona, the mayorship will be held by Lluc Salellas of Let’s Win-CUP after an agreement with Junts and ERC.
In Galicia, the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) now governs in 32 councils, including Compostela, where Goretti Sanmartín has become the first woman to be sworn in as mayor. In Pontevedra, Miguel Anxo Fernández from the BNG will repeat as mayor in coalition with the PSOE. In A Coruña, Inés del Rey from the PSOE will continue as mayoress after an agreement with the BNG. In Lugo, Lara Méndez from PSdeG has managed to retain the mayoralty with the support of the BNG.
In the Basque Country, EH Bildu has gained 145 mayors, 21 more than four years ago. EH Bildu will govern for the first time in Andoain, Tolosa, and Zizurkil in Gipuzkoa, as well as in Bermeo, Alonsotegi, Plentzia, and Sopel in Bizkaia, and in Burlada in Nafarroa. The party will also continue to govern or repeat in cities such as Donostia, Bilbo, Zarautz, Elgoibar, Renteria, Azpeitia, Hernani, Zumaia, Bergara, Beasain, Tafalla, Berriozar, and Ansoain.
In Euskal Herria, the PNV has retained the mayoralty of Donostia and Bilbo, while EH Bildu has been unseated in Gasteiz and Durango due to agreements between PNV, PSE, and PP. The UPN has retained the mayoralty in Pamplona with the support of PSN.
The alliances formed by PNV, PSE, PP, and Vox to prevent EH Bildu from accessing certain institutions have been criticized by the general coordinator of EH Bildu, Arnaldo Otegi. Otegi questions the political arguments used to justify these alliances and warns of the dangers they may pose in the future.
Overall, the recent municipal elections in Spain have seen the People’s Party and Vox gain control in several cities and municipalities, forming alliances to secure mayoral positions. The election results have led to a redistribution of power among political parties in different regions of Spain, with the PP emerging as the winner in many province capitals and the PSOE losing some of its previously held territories. These elections have also highlighted the political dynamics and alliances formed between different parties, including the far-right Vox party.
“The outcome of the Spanish municipal elections reveals a concerning trend as the People’s Party and ultra-right pacts secure government control in 32 province capitals. This calls for vigilance and further examination of the potential consequences these alliances may have on social inclusivity and democratic values in Spain. It is crucial to promote open dialogue and actively engage in building a society that upholds the principles of tolerance, diversity, and respect for all citizens.”
It is concerning to see the People’s Party and ultra-right pacts gaining power in 32 province capitals after the Spanish municipal elections. This could potentially have a significant impact on the direction of local governance and raises questions about the values and priorities of these newfound governments.