He warned, he threw down the gauntlet and, finally, Santiago Abascal made good on his threat. The leader of Vox, in a unilateral decision, broke its government agreements with the PP in several autonomous regions. The reason (for show) is none other than his disagreements on immigration with Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s party, which agreed to accept 347 migrant minors. Although everything points to the fact that the real motivation for this cataclysm is the loss of votes in the last elections (general, Galician, Basque…) and the appearance on the scene of Alvise Perez and his The Party is Over.
Whatever the case, Abascal yesterday threw dialogue and consensus to the winds and has put five regional governments in jeopardy. And here, at this point, is where his argument on immigration loses steam. Because if we stop to look, Vox reportedly left the government of Castilla y León due to the reception of 21 minors; that of the Valencian Community, by 23; that of Murcia, by 16; that of Aragon, by 20; and that of Extremadura, by 30. In short, Abascal’s party will no longer have representation in the autonomous governments for the reception of 110 migrant minors.
And although until the last minute there were still those who believed that Abascal would not carry out his challenge to the end, in order not to lose territorial power, in the ranks of the PP they were already preparing to reorganize their territories with an official maxim: not to call or advance elections in any of the affected autonomous communities. A note: Vox does not have a party structure in the majority of autonomous communities nor does it have barons, in fact, its strength lies in the positions it holds within the regional executives. So, what future awaits these five autonomous governments?
Estremadura
From Extremadura, its president, Maria Guardiola made it clear that will continue to govern in a minority after the government pact was broken. However, he made it clear that the PP has “scrupulously” complied with what was signed and that it will be Vox who will have to give the appropriate explanations.
Here is where the first plan under the orders of Santiago Abascal. Vox’s advisor in the Government of Extremadura, Ignacio Higuero, will continue to lead the Forest Management and Rural World area. This was confirmed by the affected party this Friday, not without first pointing out that although he understands the turn taken by Vox, “I don’t share it and I can’t defend it”A “complicated” decision in which he says he has put his enthusiasm and his “commitment to and for the people of Extremadura” first.
“It is neither fair nor honest to change the rules of the game in the middle of the game,” Higuero denounced. Thus, despite the fact that the Vox councilor will remain in his position, the pact is finishedGuardiola rules out early elections, so he will remain at the head of the Extremadura Regional Government.
Valencian Community
The president of the Valencian Generalitat, Carlos Mazón dismissed the three Vox advisers after it was announced that the party would break its pacts with the PP. Far from waiting for them to resign from their posts, the popular leader took the initiative. Barely an hour after the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal will confirm the breakup of the autonomous pacts with the PP, the DOGV published the dismissal of the vice president, Vicente Barrera, and the other two Vox councilors, Elisa Núñez and José Luis Aguirre.
This very morning, Mazón appeared to give an account of his New, smaller government structure with new faces. As regards the new ministers, Salomé Pradas will take over the Justice and Interior portfolio. The Agriculture area will be in the hands of the current PP ombudsman in Les Corts, Miguel Barrachina. And, finally, Vicente Martínez Mus will be the new minister for the Environment, Water, Territory and Infrastructure.
The PP leader has ruled out early elections, but recognises that from now on a new stage will begin in which negotiations will have to be carried out. It should be remembered that The PP has 40 deputies; the PSPV-PSOE, with 31; Compromís, with 15; and Vox, with 13.
Aragon
The President of Aragon, Jorge Azcon, has maintained the same line as his party colleagues and has ruled out early electionshence The PP will govern alone after Vox’s scare over the distribution of migrant minors.
The PP leader appeared just minutes after the until now Vice-president of Vox in the Aragonese government, Alejandro Nolasco, announced his resignation. A fact that has not affected the plan already drawn up by Azcón, who reported that Cowboy Sea She will now be the only vice president and will assume the functions of the Presidency and Justice, replacing Nolasco. On the other hand, she announced that Javier Rincon will be the new Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, replacing Ángel Sámper.
Castile and Leon
The President of Castile and Leon, Alfonso Fernandez Manuecohas appeared before the media to announce the restructuring of his new Executive after the break with Vox and to make it clear that his “government is still on track.” In this sense, he has assured that his Government will maintain the ten ministriesalthough with some changes. Among them, the structure of the Vice-Presidency will be eliminated, which will be assumed by the current Minister of Family, Isabel Blanco Llamas.
The president of Castile-León has denied the call for early elections and has assured that he will govern in a minority after a decision, that of Vox, which he describes as “erroneous” and “unjustified.” Words that came after the current vice president of the Junta Juan García-Gallardo announces his resignationThe leader of Vox will become the spokesperson for Vox in the Cortes, already in the opposition.
But the restructuring of the Government came as a surprise. Mañueco reported that one of Vox’s advisors, Gonzalo SantonjaMinister of Culture, Tourism and Sport, will continue in officehaving the “personal trust” of the president himself. The other two, Gerardo Dueñas (Agriculture and Livestock) and Mariano Veganzones (Employment and Industry) They have been dismissed for not submitting their resignation. Curiously, the latter announced his resignation from Abascal’s party.
Among the new faces, we must highlight that of Leticia Garcia Sanchezuntil now territorial delegate of the Junta in Zamora, who will be the new Minister of Industry, Trade and Employment, or the one from Segovia Jose Luis Sanz Merinowho will be the Minister of Mobility and Digital Transformation. This means that the current head of the latter department, María González Corral, will assume the responsibilities of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development.
Murcia
The pact between PP and Vox in Murcia has not even reached a year of government, but the president, Fernando Lopez Miras, has wanted to make it clear that the turbulence caused by Santiago Abascal’s formation will not affect the governability of the region. From the Murcian executive, the PP has stated that will not call regional elections and will govern in a minority (two seats short of an absolute majority), “putting the general interest” of citizens first and “reaching out” to the consensus of the other groups.
Meanwhile, those who have already taken action on the matter are the leaders of Vox in Murcia. The vice president and Minister of the Interior, José Ángel Antelo will resignas did the Minister of Public Works, José Manuel Pancorbo. “Vox will resign en masse,” Antelo has stated, and has warned that his party will be very vigilant with the town councils that collaborate with illegal immigration in order to also break the government pacts wherever they exist: “We put convictions before seats.”