A far-right party on Wednesday took a role in the formation of a regional government in Spain for the first time since the Francisco Franco dictatorship ended in 1975.
The anti-immigrant Vox agreed to support a center-right coalition in Andalusia. It became kingmaker in Spain’s most populous region — a traditional Socialist Party stronghold — after 12 of its candidates unexpectedly won seats in an election last month.
While Vox would not be part of the Andalusia government, bitter memories of military dictatorship had until now prevented far-right parties from making any inroads into the Spanish political mainstream.
Photo: Reuters
Franco died in 1975 and democracy was re-established three years later.
In return for its support, Vox made a 37-point agreement with the conservative People’s Party (PP) that includes commitments to tackle illegal immigration, reduce regional taxes and combat Islamic fundamentalism.
“Today illegal immigration and corruption lose ... and the Andalusians, the defense of the family and a more pluralistic politics win,” Vox deputy leader Javier Ortega said.
The PP struck a separate accord with the center-right Ciudadanos to form the coalition government, ending an unbroken 36-year run of Socialist administrations in the southern region.
“The Andalusians have chosen a government of change to put an end to 40 years of awful socialist policies and [PP coalition leader Juanma Moreno] is not going to let them down,” PP leader Pablo Casado wrote on Twitter.
After the election, the minority Socialist government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that if the main opposition parties relied on the support of Vox to take office, they risked turning the region into a “cradle of the far right.”
The administration regrets “the radicalization seen on the part of the PP and Ciudadanos,” a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
“This government, in a moment in which some want to go back to the Spain of the black-and-white era, reaffirms its commitment to European values,” she added.
The agreement did not include a proposal by Vox to repeal domestic violence legislation, a divisive demand that had caused discomfort among some PP leaders and has led women’s groups to call a protest next week.
Spain is readying for a busy electoral year, with polls showing that the far right could also win seats in other parts of the country.
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