Juanma Moreno takes office as Andalusia president, starting third term with Vox coalition
Juanma Moreno was sworn in as president of Andalusia on Sunday in a scaled-down ceremony at the Palacio de San Telmo, launching his third term after a controversial coalition deal with far-right Vox.
Ceremony in Seville
Juanma Moreno was sworn in as president of the Junta de Andalucía on Sunday morning in the gardens of the Palacio de San Telmo, the seat of the regional government. Around 300 guests attended the ceremony, half the number that gathered for his 2022 inauguration, which was held on the street in front of the palace. Jesús Aguirre, president of the Andalusian parliament, read the appointment decree before Moreno delivered his inaugural address. Among those present were former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, former vice president Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, and PP national executive members Elías Bendodo and Juan Bravo. The central government sent secretary of state Miryam Álvarez and Málaga subdelegate Javier Salas.
Political context
The investiture, secured on Thursday in a second parliamentary vote, came 49 days after the May 17 regional election. Moreno's Partido Popular fell two seats short of an absolute majority, winning 53 of the 109 seats. Vox, with 15 deputies, provided the necessary support after both parties signed a 150-measure "Government and Stability Agreement for Andalusia" that includes the "national priority" demanded by Santiago Abascal's party. Moreno had governed with an absolute majority since 2022 and previously led a coalition with Ciudadanos from 2018.
- PP-A wins 53 seats, loses absolute majority
- Moreno invested with PP and Vox votes
- Moreno takes office in San Telmo gardens
Reluctant coalition
Moreno acknowledged his discomfort with the pact.
He framed the decision as a matter of responsibility to avoid sending Andalusians back to the polls.Obviously, my goal was different, my goal was those deputies we lacked. So I would have liked to have a single-party government.
The agreement makes Vox a formal coalition partner for the first time in Moreno's nearly eight years in office, and the first far-right participation in the Andalusian government since the Franco era.I thought the general interest was above my own interest.
Government formation
Manuel Gavira, Vox's spokesperson in the regional parliament, will serve as vice president and take on the portfolios of Tourism, Deregulation, Justice, and Local Administration. Moreno has said there will be additional vice presidencies, held by the PP, to ensure the regional government does not fall under Vox control in his absence. The new executive is expected to have around 13 ministries, matching the current structure.
Reactions
Mariano Rajoy praised Moreno as a
in a tense political climate and noted thatbenchmark of good sense
The coalition is the fourth regional government in Spain to include Vox, following those in Extremadura, Aragon, and Castile and León.Andalusia is among the top regions because things are being done well.
