Far-right Vox party paves way for rightist coalition in Andalucia with PP-Ciudadanos deal backing

A FAR-RIGHT political party which gained 12 seats in December’s Andalucia election has said it will support two rightwing parties’ bid to take power in the region.

Vox’s pledge to back the conservative Partido Popular’s (PP) and the centrist Ciudadanos’s draft coalition deal means the latter two now have the numbers to pass it in Andalucia’s Parliament.

The PP and Ciudadanos have so far agreed to install the former’s Juanma Moreno as president of the Junta de Andalucia and to share key ministries between them.

Vox is not set to be a part of the administration in the agreement that was signed today (Wednesday) but some of its proposed measures have been included.

The move is set to bring the right to power in Andalucia for the first time since the region gained autonomy around 38 years ago.

Moreno said on Twitter the reaching of the agreement marked a “historic day” for Andalucia.

“We have signed an agreement that allows a government of change for our region,” Moreno said.

Hemos firmado con representantes de Ciudadanos el acuerdo de investidura que posibilita el gobierno del cambio en nuestra comunidad.

Hoy es un día histórico para Andalucía. pic.twitter.com/u5NBAzJfWi

— Juanma Moreno (@JuanMa_Moreno) January 9, 2019

Juan Marin, the head of Ciudadanos in Andalucia, said the agreement meant his party’s promise of a change in government had been achieved.

Prometimos un cambio de Gobierno, y lo hemos cumplido. Habrá menos Consejerías y Delegaciones Territoriales, y se priorizarán las medidas acordadas.
Hemos firmado el acuerdo con el PP para la investidura del Presidente de la Junta de Andalucía. pic.twitter.com/2wkDrNnIPz

— Juan Marín (@JuanMarin_Cs) January 9, 2019

Vox said the agreement showed their party was now a force for change.

The ruling left-leaning Partido Socialista (PSOE) in Andalucia said the pact represented an ultra-right alliance that would “destroy” progress made in the region.

Para @AdelanteAND la primera opción es un tripartito de #ultraderecha. Cuando aparece el monstruo, algunos se ponen a hacer la revolución en vez de combatirlo… Nosotros vamos a dar la cara y nos presentaremos a la investidura

📹 @mariojimenez ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/1Oi7e1FLcK

— PSOE de Andalucía (@psoedeandalucia) January 9, 2019

The party added it would present Mario Jimenez as a rival candidate for the Junta presidency.

Teresa Rodriguez, of the leftist Podemos, said her party had an “obligation” to present an alternative to the PP-Ciudadanos and Vox-backed deal.

Si las fuerzas de derechas no suman, estamos en disposición de presentar a un candidato alternativo. Nuestra obligación es ofrecer una alternativa y eso estamos haciendo. pic.twitter.com/sUKPeIzLYM

— Teresa Rodríguez (@TeresaRodr_) January 9, 2019

The PP and Ciudadanos previously sought to distance themselves from Vox, which is seen as a direct challenge to the former for Spain’s right wing vote.

Ciudadanos, which pitches itself as a business-friendly pro-Spanish union and pro-EU progressive party, was also concerned about Vox’s image as a party of the racist and reactionary right.

Garcia Smith, general secretary of Vox, presented 19 demands to the PP and Ciudadanos including expelling 52,000 migrants from the region.

Several were rejected as unacceptable one proposal, the overhauling of gender violence laws, was partially accepted.

Vox claims gender violence laws discriminate against men and male victims. Critics claim the party opposes the laws as part of a broader anti-feminist agenda.

🚨🚨 🚨 #ÚLTIMAHORA VOX ha llegado a un acuerdo con el Partido Popular para posibilitar un cambio que ponga fin a 36 años de régimen socialista en Andalucía.

✅ VOX consolida su éxito demostrando su utilidad para el cambio.

📥 Aquí el documento: https://t.co/kjR2VU8kwD pic.twitter.com/9OkPBj2l80

— VOX 🇪🇸 (@vox_es) January 9, 2019

PSOE saw its majority slashed in the December 2 vote. The party, led in Andalucia by Junta president Susana Diaz, was left without the numbers to form a government after previous coalition partners Ciudadanos said they would work with the PP.