Abascal Calls for Cooperation with PP to Secure Senate Control
Vox leader Santiago Abascal has urged the party to withdraw its candidacies for the Senate in the Canary Islands in a bid to strengthen relations with the Popular Party (PP) ahead of the upcoming elections. This strategy aims to help both parties achieve a combined majority in the Senate.
Discussions between the two parties, which started over a week ago, face hurdles due to differing views on the terms of their agreement. The PP, led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has proposed that Vox stand down in specific locations, including Fuerteventura, La Palma, and Tenerife, to consolidate votes for the PP. In return, they suggest various forms of representation, such as granting Vox additional senators and helping them establish their parliamentary group.
However, Vox is seeking further concessions and has indicated that the PP should also refrain from contesting in certain provinces. This suggestion has raised concerns within the PP regarding its potential electoral impact.
The negotiation complications largely stem from how far the two parties are willing to concede. While the PP believes that sharing senators would facilitate an agreement, Vox demands a commitment that mirrors its electoral significance.
In Catalonia, the PP has yet to win any elected Senate seats, with its only senator, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, appointed between 1995 and 1999. The region represents a battleground where both parties compete for the same conservative electorate. The PP secured a victory over Vox in the regional elections of 2024, while Vox triumphed in 2021.
These elections present a significant opportunity for both parties, particularly as the ultra-nationalist Aliança Catalana is not fielding candidates, leaving some voters politically unrepresented.
