Vox keeps campaigning after Urda train crash, blaming Sánchez's government

Vox keeps its campaign events after the crash

Vox will not suspend its campaign after a train accident at Urda, in Toledo province, and the reported death toll varies by outlet. LaSexta puts it at at least 30 dead, while ABC gives at least 50 so far and El País refers only to dozens. Ignacio Garriga, the party's secretary general, sent condolences to the families and said Vox would keep denouncing the problems affecting Spaniards. El País reports that Vox is the only party that has decided not to suspend its campaign after the crash.

Garriga framed the decision as a duty to the public, saying:

“Vox will work tirelessly to keep denouncing what all Spaniards are suffering in every corner of Spain.”

Abascal blames Sánchez's government

Speaking in Santander on Wednesday, 28 October, Santiago Abascal said he felt absolute rage at what he called a criminal organisation, the government led by Pedro Sánchez. He accused the executive of spending taxpayers' money meant for infrastructure on escorts, ideological fanaticism, an invasion, bribes and jewellery. He said he would not believe any explanation the government gave for the Urda crash. He also pointed to the Adamuz rail accident in January, which La Vanguardia reports killed 46 people, and said what happened there is still unknown.

He put his position this way:

“I express my absolute rage at a government that is a criminal organisation.”

Abascal said Vox would not suspend its events because the party honours the victims by denouncing the decline of public services, infrastructure and institutions. He said he was used to some people wanting to suspend campaigns after tragedies and turn politicians into mourners at funerals:

“We are used to some people wanting to suspend election campaigns over tragedies and turning politicians into mourners at funerals.”

Zamora rally and the national priority message

On 27 October Abascal spoke at a rally in Zamora's Plaza de la Marina, which Europa Press put at about 1,500 people. There he called on voters to remove the government and placed national priority, which favours Spaniards for social and housing aid, at the centre of the campaign. Miguel Suárez Arca, Vox's candidate for Congress in Zamora, said the province had lost 100,000 people in recent decades and that for every four burials there was one birth. Carlos Pollán, the party's leader in Castile and León and vice-president of the regional government, said the policy would keep young people in their home towns.

Upcoming events and precedent

Vox's public event in Valladolid is scheduled for 19:00 on 28 October, the same day as Abascal's press appearance in Santander. El País recalls that Vox also refused to suspend events after the Adamuz accident on 18 January, which happened during the Aragon regional election campaign.

Election pitch

Abascal urged supporters not to trust the polls and to make the effort of persuading their relatives to vote for the party. He said Vox must become the first party in Spain and that it has reasons for hope. He is the party's candidate for the presidency of the government in the 29N election. Vox's campaign events continue with the Santander and Valladolid appearances scheduled for the same day.