Santiago Abascal delivered sharp criticism towards Alberto Núñez Feijóo and the Partido Popular (PP) after a large-scale anti-corruption rally took place in Madrid. The Vox leader stated that such events do not address real issues, but rather serve to distract from the opposition’s own responsibilities. According to him, the Partido Popular is engaging in manipulation, misleading voters, and failing to fulfill its obligations in Parliament.
Abascal emphasized that the accusations against Vox, voiced by Feijóo, are baseless. He pointed out that it is the PP, not his party, that enters into agreements with the socialists. In his view, instead of staging street protests, the opposition should operate within the legal framework and pursue change through the courts and parliamentary mechanisms.
Accusations and street protests
During his speech in Guadalupe (Cáceres), Abascal did not hide his emotions as he commented on the recent rally under the slogan “Mafia or Democracy.” He expressed surprise that the Partido Popular decided to hold such an event precisely after corruption schemes within the organization itself were uncovered in Almería. The Vox leader noted that he respects the citizens who took to the streets, but considers the actions of the PP leadership hypocritical and ineffective.
In his view, such rallies do not lead to real change, serving only as self-affirmation and a display of symbolism. Abascal is convinced that these actions will not succeed in removing Pedro Sánchez from the position of prime minister, but merely create the illusion of fighting corruption.
Opposition Criticism
The Vox leader accused the People’s Party of failing to fulfill its role as the main opposition force. He recalled that for several months he has been urging Feijóo to initiate a vote of no confidence against the government, but Feijóo refuses, citing a lack of support. Abascal believes this stance reflects the PP’s unwillingness to take responsibility and genuinely challenge those in power.
He also noted that street protests are being used to hide the party’s inability to work effectively in parliament. According to Abascal, true opposition must act in the Congress of Deputies, rather than limiting itself to loud statements and mass rallies.
Situation in Extremadura
During his visit to Extremadura, Abascal also commented on internal political developments in the region. He noted that this was already his third trip to the autonomous community since María Guardiola dissolved the regional parliament. According to him, the snap elections caught Vox off guard, as the party was not prepared for such a turn of events and struggled for a long time to settle on a candidate.
Abascal expressed his dissatisfaction with Guardiola’s decision, accusing her of trying to avoid the need to reach an agreement with Vox, as happened in Valencia. He believes that dissolving the parliament was an excessive step, since Vox deputies had no intention of supporting alternative budget amendments proposed by the Socialists and Unidas por Extremadura.
Internal party disagreements
The Vox leader also pointed out differences in coalition-building approaches across various regions of the country. He recalled that in the Comunidad Valenciana, an agreement was reached after the new regional leader refused to support the European Green Deal and took a hard stance on migration issues. In Extremadura, however, according to Abascal, the Popular Party preferred to avoid dialogue and opted for early elections, which only worsened political instability.
In conclusion, Abascal reiterated that Vox does not intend to support initiatives that contradict its platform and will demand transparency and accountability from all political forces, regardless of their affiliation.
