Juan Manuel Moreno secures a third term as president of Andalucía after reaching a coalition deal with Vox. The agreement gives Vox a key vice-presidency and includes policies Moreno previously opposed.
Juan Manuel Moreno, leader of the Partido Popular in Andalucía, has been sworn in for a third term as president of the Junta de Andalucía after finalizing a coalition agreement with Vox. The deal, reached just before the decisive parliamentary vote, grants Vox a vice-presidential role overseeing Tourism, Deregulation, Justice, and Local Administration. This marks the first time Vox will hold an executive position in the regional government, despite previously being limited to parliamentary support.
The agreement comes after Moreno, who needed only two Vox votes to secure his re-election, accepted several of Vox's core policy demands. These include measures such as climate change denial, the repeal of the regional memory law, and the adoption of the 'national priority' principle—a stance Moreno had previously dismissed as an empty slogan. The Partido Popular had already accepted similar terms in other regions, but Moreno had repeatedly criticized such deals and described governing with Vox as 'impossible' in past interviews and campaign events.
During the recent election campaign, Moreno emphasized moderation and warned against the instability that could arise from relying on Vox. He cited previous legislative deadlocks caused by Vox's opposition to budgets and key laws, arguing that such experiences proved coalition government with Vox was unworkable. Nonetheless, the new pact includes several points Moreno had previously rejected, particularly regarding immigration and the treatment of unaccompanied foreign minors.
The coalition agreement specifically opposes the central government's migration policies and commits the Junta de Andalucía to resist any redistribution of undocumented migrants, both adults and minors. This represents a significant shift from Moreno's earlier position, when he defended the region's willingness to care for unaccompanied minors and criticized attempts to stigmatize migrants. In parliamentary debates, Moreno had challenged Vox's rhetoric, rejecting the idea that all foreigners should be viewed as criminals and warning against divisive political messaging.
Despite these past disagreements, the new government structure limits Vox's direct influence to a single, albeit significant, ministry. The Partido Popular maintains control over the most ideologically sensitive portfolios. Moreno has described the coalition as 'strong, calm, sensible, and legal,' even as it incorporates policies he once opposed.
Andalucía is Spain's most populous region and a key political battleground. The inclusion of Vox in the regional executive reflects a broader trend of right-wing alliances in Spanish regional politics, following similar agreements in Extremadura, Aragón, and Castilla y León. The 'national priority' principle, which prioritizes Spanish nationals in certain policies, has been a point of contention and legal debate, as Spain's immigration laws are set at the national level. The evolution of these coalitions is closely watched for its impact on regional governance and national political dynamics.
