At the beginning of 2025, Spain’s political scene was once again in the spotlight due to the actions of the leader of the far-right Vox party. Santiago Abascal, never missing an opportunity to place himself at the center of debate, decided to focus on a topic that sparks heated controversy in society—illegal migration and its alleged impact on women’s safety.
During a recent session in the Congress of Deputies, Abascal presented a selection of news reports featuring attacks on women, allegedly committed by foreigners. According to him, most of these cases involved people from Morocco and other Maghreb countries. However, it later emerged that some of these stories were exaggerated or entirely untrue. Some were published in party-affiliated outlets rather than independent media, serving as yet another example of how Vox shapes its own information agenda.
Although some incidents did take place, the party often attributes immigrant status to perpetrators without sufficient evidence. At times, even the nationality of victims or offenders is misreported. One of the most high-profile cases Abascal referred to turned out to be fabricated: police in Tenerife refuted claims of an attack on a local woman by an illegal migrant from Africa.
Nevertheless, Vox continues to use such stories to organize protests at migrant accommodation centers and incite public discontent. After leaving regional governments last year, the party has noticeably strengthened its position in the polls, especially among young voters. However, support for the far-right remains low among women—less than 14% are willing to vote for them.
Abascal explains this by saying that the media shapes a negative perception of the party among women, accusing Vox of sexism. In response, he tries to promote female leaders within the party and positions Vox as a defender of Spanish women against threats allegedly posed by migrants. This strategy is not new—it has already been tested by right-wing parties in Germany and France, but in Spain it faces several challenges. Firstly, Vox has traditionally opposed feminism, which breeds distrust among women. Secondly, the country has not experienced the kind of mass panic seen in other European nations after high-profile crimes.
Alongside efforts to win over female voters, Vox is increasing pressure on its former allies in the People’s Party (PP), accusing them of making concessions on migration issues. In some regions where the PP compromised with the far-right, centers for underage migrants have been closed. Each time the PP agrees to Vox’s demands, Abascal emphasizes that their stance is not consistent enough and proposes even more radical measures.
In recent months, the confrontation between the two parties has moved beyond parliamentary debates and into the courts. Vox is filing lawsuits not only against Pedro Sánchez’s government, but also against PP regional leaders, accusing them of inefficiency in responding to natural disasters and crime.
Amid rising political tensions, Vox is preparing for a major rally in Madrid, which was intended as a show of unity among Europe’s far-right forces. However, many foreign leaders declined to participate, though this did not stop the party from expecting a full house thanks to support from its backers across the country.
The event featured discussions on migration and the role of European institutions, as well as exhibitions highlighting Spain’s regional traditions. Despite Vox’s attempts to present itself as a defender of national interests and women, the party continues to face distrust from a significant segment of the public, especially among women. In the coming months, it will become clear whether this strategy will shift the balance of power in the country’s political arena.
