Vox and the PP have reached a preliminary coalition deal in Extremadura, the first of three regional agreements that could reshape national politics. The pact gives Vox the agriculture and family ministries and strengthens its influence on immigration and energy policy, including a vow to "oppose by all means necessary" further relocations of undocumented migrants and an effort to keep the Almaraz nuclear plant open. Polls show a combined PP‑Vox vote share of about 51.4%, far ahead of the Socialists.
Vox and Conservatives Strike First Regional Coalition in Extremadura, Boosting Right-Wing Momentum
FILE PHOTO: Spain's opposition leader and People's Party president Alberto Nunez Feijoo attends a vote on a fiscal package extending a windfall tax on banks at Parliament, in Madrid, Spain, November 21, 2024. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo
Spain's far-right party Vox and the mainstream conservative People's Party (PP) have reached a preliminary coalition agreement to govern Extremadura, marking the first of three regional pacts that could test whether a right‑wing alliance can displace the ruling Socialists at the next national election.
The deal comes after Vox walked out of five regional administrations in 2024 in protest at the PP's acceptance of plans to relocate unaccompanied migrant minors across Spain. Reflecting Vox's growing influence on immigration policy, the agreement says a future PP‑Vox regional government will "oppose by all means necessary" any further distribution of undocumented migrants, including minors.
Portfolio Gains and Policy Priorities
Under the arrangement, the PP will take the regional presidency and most ministries, while Vox will lead the agriculture and family ministries — positions that give it direct control over areas central to its voter base. The coalition program opposes large renewable projects on agricultural land and pledges to push to keep the Almaraz nuclear plant open beyond its planned 2028 closure.
The pact also includes fiscal and social measures: cuts to regional taxes for lower‑income earners, wider inheritance tax breaks, and a policy prioritising access to public services and housing for nationals or people with a "real, lasting and verifiable connection to the territory."
Broader Political and Economic Stakes
Political observers will watch whether this second attempt at formal PP‑Vox governance succeeds. Current polls suggest the two parties together could command roughly 51.4% of the vote — well ahead of the Socialists at about 27.7% and smaller left‑wing parties at roughly 8% — making the alliance a potentially decisive force at a national level. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez must call a general election by next June.
The three regions involved — Aragon, Extremadura and Castile and León — account for roughly 10% of Spain's population and are important agricultural producers. They have also been targeted by billions of euros in planned industrial investments from U.S. and Chinese firms, including data centres and battery manufacturing projects.
Political reactions: The Socialist government accused the PP of effectively handing Vox a "blank cheque" to secure the deal. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo defended the pact, saying an alliance is the only democratic solution given Vox's status as Spain's third‑largest political force.
(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; editing by Aislinn Laing and Kirsten Donovan)
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