A new parliamentary session has begun in Extremadura, and from the very start it was clear: there will be no calm. Manuel Naharro Gata took the seat as president of the Assembly, but the road to this post was far from smooth. His candidacy received backing solely from the Partido Popular (PP) with 29 votes—no more, no less. Neither Vox nor any other factions joined in, instantly drawing a political battle line in the region.
In his inaugural speech, Naharro was direct and unflinching. He emphasized that these are turbulent times: society is torn apart by mistrust and polarization. According to him, politics should unite rather than divide, and provide real answers to citizens’ concerns. The new president called on his colleagues for maturity and responsibility, insisting that this session could be decisive for the region’s future.
Discord and ultimatums
But behind the scenes of the Assembly, tensions are running high. Talks between the PP and Vox, which were supposed to pave the way for a stable majority, have suddenly come to a standstill. Vox, led by Santiago Abascal, abruptly walked away from negotiations, accusing their partners of lacking genuine commitment to change. The move even caught the PP’s regional leader María Guardiola by surprise—she only found out about the Vox walkout through a brief email.
The situation is further complicated by a clear deadline facing Guardiola: by February 19, she must secure support from Vox to succeed in the vote for regional president. If she fails, the region could be heading toward new elections, further fueling political instability.
Efforts to Reach an Agreement
Despite the disagreements, Guardiola remains hopeful. She has publicly stated that she is counting on Vox’s common sense and their willingness to focus on Extremadura’s future rather than political games in other regions. According to her, voters have made it clear: they want stability, not another power deadlock.
Guardiola promised to immediately reach out to Vox negotiators in an attempt to bring them back to the negotiating table. She called for respectful dialogue without unnecessary media noise, emphasizing that the PP is open to compromise and is extending a hand to its opponents.
Vox’s Hardline Rhetoric
At the same time, Vox parliamentary representative Óscar Fernández has taken a much tougher stance. He openly declared that talks with PP are far from successful and sees no willingness from Guardiola to change course. According to Fernández, if the PP truly wanted an agreement, the election of the Assembly president would have been based on a deal between the two parties.
Vox claims it proposed a comprehensive agreement, but says PP refused to discuss key issues, including the distribution of posts. Fernández called PP’s proposals “offensive and shameful,” suggesting the party is actually preparing for new elections rather than real dialogue.
Symbolic concessions
Nevertheless, PP attempted a gesture of goodwill: the party gave its votes so that Vox representative Beatriz Muñoz could assume the post of First Secretary of the Assembly. Guardiola described this move as an act of generosity and respect for the will of voters who want Vox to have a role in parliament leadership.
However, Vox did not appreciate this move. Fernández stated that he does not consider Muñoz’s appointment the result of any agreement and warned: if PP thinks it can “buy” their support by offering select posts, it is on the wrong track. According to him, this step was not discussed and was not part of the negotiations.
Opposition steps in
While PP and Vox sort out their differences, socialists from PSOE and representatives of Unidas por Extremadura are making sure to keep themselves in the public eye. Acting PSOE administrator José Luis Quintana called on both parties to show respect for the region and stop staging political spectacles for headlines. He expressed confidence that a government will eventually be formed in Extremadura, but hinted that the real decisions are made not in Mérida but in Madrid, and much depends on the outcomes of elections in other regions, such as Aragón.
Irene de Miguel from Unidas por Extremadura believes there should be no real agreement between PP and Vox. She called Vox’s participation in the Assembly leadership merely a symbolic gesture and insists that if this is part of a deal, then Vox has clearly lost out.
