Far-right parties struggle to put down roots in Spain

Spain has largely resisted the surge of right-wing politics that has taken hold across Europe. While countries like Germany, France, and Italy have seen right-leaning and even far-right parties gain ground in their parliaments, Spain remains one of the few European nations still governed by the left. Historically, far-right parties have struggled to gain traction in Spain, but over the last decade, Vox has emerged as a significant force, ranking as the third or fourth most influential party in the country.

Vox’s populist platform centers on defending traditional values, Spanish national identity, and opposing regional autonomy. Despite its growing influence and potential role in a coalition with the conservative People’s Party (PP), an article by  The Conversation takes a look at the party's unconventional approach.

In the 2023 regional elections, PP-Vox coalitions gained control of six out of Spain’s 17 regional parliaments. However, Vox made headlines when it withdrew from all these coalitions in July, allegedly due to the PP’s decision to support relocating 400 unaccompanied minors from the Canary Islands to mainland Spain. While this move may appear drastic, it aligns with Vox’s broader strategy to differentiate itself from the PP and solidify its own voter base further to the right.

Spain’s far right has struggled to establish itself as a dominant force for three key reasons: political structures, social attitudes, and political competition.

For years, the PP absorbed the country’s most conservative voters, preventing the rise of a standalone far-right party. However, the growing influence of the far right across Europe, combined with the political crisis surrounding Catalan independence in 2017, created the conditions for Vox’s rise. The party itself was founded in 2014 by former PP members who felt dissatisfied with the party’s direction.

European Union and immigration

Spain’s social attitudes differ from those of many neighboring countries, particularly on two key issues that drive far-right support in Europe: the European Union and immigration.

Spain has consistently shown strong pro-EU sentiment, unlike some northern and central European nations where skepticism toward Brussels is more pronounced. Due to the difficulties Spain faced in joining the EU and the economic benefits it has gained since, public opinion remains overwhelmingly supportive of the bloc. According to the latest Eurobarometer, Spain ranks among the top five most pro-EU countries in the union.

However, Vox has adopted a Eurosceptic stance. While the party opposes the EU and its institutions, it also positions itself as a defender of “European nations and their citizens.” It advocates for “the primacy of the [Spanish] Constitution over European law” and has previously suggested the possibility of a “Spexit.”

Immigration is another area where Spain differs from its European counterparts. Until recently, Spain was not a primary destination for migrants, serving instead as a transit country for those seeking to reach other parts of Europe. As a result, immigration has not traditionally been a major concern for Spanish voters.

However, this is beginning to change. Migration has increasingly become a pressing issue, and Spaniards now cite it as one of their top concerns. While current research does not indicate that immigration is a primary driver of Vox’s support, this could shift in the future. The far right often uses anti-immigrant rhetoric to polarize the electorate, and in Spain, such discourse is more linked to security and national identity than to economic anxieties or labor shortages.

The PP and Vox as opponents

Vox’s strategy hinges on distinguishing itself from the PP, which explains why it withdrew from local government coalitions last year. This approach has made a national coalition between the two parties unlikely in the near future.

Each party targets a different voter base. To win a general election, the PP must attract voters from the center-left Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), meaning it must maintain distance from Vox. Meanwhile, Vox cannot afford to align too closely with the PP, as it risks losing its distinct identity and voter support.

This dynamic has forced both parties to keep their distance from one another. The recent Patriots for Europe summit in Madrid was a strategic moment for Vox, allowing its leader, Santiago Abascal, to showcase the party among other far-right European entities. It also served to strengthen Abascal’s position by giving him a platform independent of the PP.

Spain’s regional parties, particularly in Catalonia and the Basque Country—two of its wealthiest regions—also play a crucial role in national politics. Some right-wing regional parties, such as the Catalan nationalist Junts per Catalunya, incorporate elements of far-right ideology. Their strong nationalist stance makes them even more nativist than Vox, particularly when it comes to influencing immigration and migration policies in Catalonia.

The Spanish far right and its European counterparts

Vox shares many similarities with other far-right parties across Europe, particularly in its populist rhetoric and its ability to capitalize on fear and anxiety.

“The Spanish and European far right is, above all else, a polarising, emotional right, which uses its fiery rhetoric to generate new divisions in society,” one analysis states. Vox, like its European counterparts, employs a political strategy designed to heighten public fear of the “other.”

Spain’s unique political and social landscape has so far prevented the far right from fully integrating into the mainstream. However, as social concerns evolve and political strategies shift, the country’s future political trajectory remains uncertain.

By Nazrin Sadigova