Feijóo opens the door to a Vox coalition and sets red lines on immigration and social policies
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Partido Popular, said on Wednesday he would accept a coalition with Vox if the election results make it necessary, while insisting on red lines including the constitution and gender equality.
The leader of the Spanish conservative party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, used an appearance on the popular television programme El Hormiguero to redefine his party's approach to a possible future government with the far‑right Vox party. Although he repeated his preference to govern alone, for the first time he explicitly outlined the conditions under which a coalition would be acceptable.
A pragmatic coalition approach
Feijóo began by insisting his goal remains an absolute majority.
He stressed that he would not "demonise" Vox, describing it as the country's third-largest party with around 14–16% of the vote and more than three and a half million supporters. The PP already governs in coalition with Vox in several regions, and Feijóo made it clear that he is ready to extend that arrangement to the national level.I want to govern alone, I have said it time and again. I believe it is good to govern alone. But, of course, I will accept the result of the ballot box.
The red lines
Asked by host Pablo Motos what limits he would impose, Feijóo listed six principles that no agreement would breach.
On immigration he elaborated that migrants must come to work and obey the law, addingRespect for the Spanish Constitution, respect for the Spain of the autonomous communities, gender‑equality and LGTBI policies, balanced public accounts, the prosperity of Spaniards above all, and an orderly, rational immigration policy.
If they do not come to contribute or they come to commit crimes, we will expel them.
Abortion and euthanasia
Feijóo firmly ruled out any reform of the current time‑limit abortion law, even under pressure from a potential coalition partner.
By contrast, he promised to "perfect" the euthanasia law to ensure more guarantees and more medical information before an irreversible decision. He cited the case of a paraplegic woman, Noelia, whose assisted death had been approved, saying he had apologised to her mother on behalf of the state because she had not been properly cared for.It is a law that is contextualised within the scope of Europe, and therefore we are, at the end of the day, the European Union.
The scent of early elections
Feijóo fed speculation that the current government of Pedro Sánchez might not last until 2027. He said he saw "movement" among key parliamentary allies, especially the Catalan separatist party Junts and the Basque PNV.
The PP and Junts have already aligned on a motion urging Sánchez to call a snap election, a pressure that Feijóo believes could force the prime minister to go to the country earlier than planned.There are things that are moving. Pronouncements are being made that would not have been made two months ago.
Reaching across the aisle
Framing his interview almost as a pre‑election rally, Feijóo appealed directly to disillusioned Socialist voters, asking them to "lend" their vote to the PP because of the corruption scandals enveloping the government. He also called on Vox supporters to back his party to guarantee a strong single‑party government, while accepting that a coalition might be the price of stability if the numbers dictate it. The evening confirmed that Feijóo is now openly campaigning for the moment when the current administration falls.
