Right-wing party makes gains in Spain

The defeat of Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist Party in Aragon signals the government’s waning support across much of the country

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist Party suffered a major defeat on Sunday in the Aragon regional election, while right-wing parties made substantial gains, underscoring the government’s weakening support across the country.

Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP) won 26 seats in Aragon’s 67-member parliament, down from 28, falling short of a majority despite taking 34.3% of the vote. Sanchez’s Socialists dropped to 18 seats from 23, their worst-ever regional result, with 24.3% support, while right-wing Vox doubled its number of seats to 14, coming in third. Aragon, often called “Spain’s Ohio,” is viewed as a barometer of the national political mood.

“This is not the result we hoped for,” said Socialist candidate Pilar Alegria, who had resigned as education minister to run in the regional vote. “Aragon now faces an uncertain horizon.”

Sunday’s vote was the first of three regional elections scheduled in PP-held areas of Spain, to be followed by Castilla y Leon in March and Andalusia in June.

Both the PP and the Socialists framed the Aragón election around broader national issues, with the PP portraying it as a referendum on the prime minister, whose coalition has been hit by scandals involving his party and allies. The prime minister’s personal popularity has also been dented by corruption scandals involving at least two of his closest aides and his wife.

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The election campaign in Aragón, a northeastern region of about 1.3 million people, was dominated by debates over Sánchez’s plan to legalize around 500,000 immigrants.

Opposition leaders have reacted with fierce condemnation, framing the move as politically motivated and irresponsible. PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo accused Sanchez of attempting to “deflect attention” from a mounting national crisis following a series of recent fatal passenger train accidents that left dozens dead.

Vox leader Santiago Abascal went even further, accusing the government of promoting a large-scale “invasion” to “replace” the local population and calling for mass deportations.

Recent EU elections have seen a surge in right-wing and conservative support, driven by concerns over immigration, economic uncertainty, and political scandals. In the 2024 European Parliament vote, France’s National Rally led with 31%, Austria’s Freedom Party topped the polls, and Germany’s AfD made significant gains. Right-wing parties also strengthened in Belgium, Italy, and Hungary.