Vox leader Santiago Abascal said his party would take whatever steps were needed to ensure Spain did not depend on Pedro Sánchez or his allies. He made the pledge after the PSOE and Frente Amplio agreed to run together for the Senate on 29 November. The pact was reached on 16 October and announced the following day.
On Saturday, Vox secretary-general Ignacio Garriga accused Sánchez of using state institutions for his own benefit and said he would use every means available to change the electoral process. Garriga also accused him of trying to stay in power and override voters’ will.
On 17 October, Garriga called for mass mobilisation ahead of the 29 November election. He repeated his allegation that Sánchez would use any means at his disposal to change the electoral process and extend his time in office.
The parties will use a single ballot under the name Senado de Progreso. The alliance includes the PSOE and Izquierda Unida, alongside Movimiento Sumar and Más Madrid. Regional partners include Compromís and Chunta Aragonesista. Batzarre and Més are also part of the alliance, as is Ceuta Ya. The parties say the alliance is meant to consolidate left-wing votes and prevent the PP from winning a new absolute majority in the upper chamber.
El País reported that of the 58 senators elected under the relevant system, 23 represented the PP, 19 the PSOE and five Vox.
Some media reported on Saturday that Vox could decide not to stand in certain small provinces. Those areas elect few senators, and the party could end up without representation there. The reported aim would be to avoid splitting right-wing votes and reduce the chance of a left-wing Senate majority.
The deadline to register electoral coalitions expired on the evening of 16 October, ruling out a new PP-Vox coalition as the option under discussion. Instead, reports focused on a possible Vox decision not to field candidates in particular provinces.
Abascal has not announced any withdrawals. His pledge to act with restraint comes as the campaign has already featured his warnings about a bitter contest and Sánchez’s hold on power, as covered in an earlier campaign report.
