Spain's right-wing Vox party is grappling with its most serious internal shock in years. The sudden departure of José Ángel Antelo, the party's leader in the Murcia region, has unleashed a wave of criticism against Santiago Abascal. Former and current activists accuse the leadership of a lack of internal democracy and the systematic removal of strong regional leaders. Meanwhile, on the left, the process of seeking a successor to Yolanda Díaz is underway, with ministers from the Sumar coalition distancing themselves from taking over the leadership.

Rebellion of the Leader in Murcia

José Ángel Antelo refuses to leave the regional parliament and accuses Abascal of enforcing submission.

Internal Criticism on the Right

Historical Vox leaders accuse Santiago Abascal of a lack of internal democracy and personnel purges.

Paralysis of Succession on the Left

Ministers from the Sumar coalition refuse to take over leadership after Yolanda Díaz's departure.

Santiago Abascal's Reaction

The Vox leader attributes the crisis to external conspiracies and the personal ambitions of regional activists.

The situation inside the Vox party has reached a critical point following events in Murcia, which until now was considered the party's main stronghold. José Ángel Antelo, the former regional leader, broke his silence after being forced to step down, stating that „loyalty should not be confused with submission”. Antelo refused to give up his parliamentary mandate, which constitutes a direct challenge to the party's central authorities in Madrid. Other prominent politicians have joined the criticism, including Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, who stated that Santiago Abascal deliberately eliminates individuals with leadership potential to remain the only recognizable face of the formation. Media analyses point to a growing authoritarian style within Vox, described by some commentators as an attempt to create a „Spanish version of Trump”. Santiago Abascal, however, rejected the accusations, explaining the crisis as „orchestrated campaigns, betrayals, and personal ambitions”. This has not stopped the wave of discontent, which has also spread to other regions, including Castile and León, where Juan García-Gallardo accused the leader of avoiding responsibility. This situation is being closely watched by the People's Party (PP), whose former prime minister José María Aznar warned of the dangers of right-wing populism. The Murcia region has for years been a political laboratory for the Spanish right, where Vox regularly records record support levels, often surpassing traditional mainstream parties. On the opposite pole of the political scene, the Spanish left is also facing a succession problem. Following Yolanda Díaz's announcement that she will not run in future elections, key ministers from the Sumar coalition, such as Ernest Urtasun and Pablo Bustinduy, have publicly ruled out taking over the leadership. This is causing a state of uncertainty in the governing coalition, which must redefine its ground strategy. Simultaneously, in the Extremadura region, divisions are emerging within the socialist PSOE party over selecting a new federation leader, showing that the season of personnel changes has affected the entire political spectrum of Spain. „No hay que confundir lealtad con sumisión” (Loyalty should not be confused with submission.) — José Ángel Antelo „Abascal busca que no haya nadie reconocible” (Abascal aims to ensure there is no one else recognizable.) — Iván Espinosa de los Monteros

Mentioned People

  • Santiago Abascal — Chairman of the Vox party, accused of authoritarian management methods within the party.
  • José Ángel Antelo — Former basketball player and Vox leader in Murcia, whose departure triggered the party crisis.
  • Yolanda Díaz — Deputy Prime Minister of Spain and leader of the Sumar platform, who announced her resignation from leadership.
  • Iván Espinosa de los Monteros — Co-founder of Vox, criticizing the party's current leadership.