Spain’s PP has named Vox-linked Senate candidates under a pact that leaves Vox out of the race in 14 constituencies. The nominees include a former press chief for Javier Ortega-Smith and a former Valencian minister.
A former Vox press chief and a former member of Carlos Mazón’s regional cabinet are among those placed second on PP Senate tickets. The party has presented them as independents, although most have close ties to Vox.
Finalized on 26 October 2026, the agreement covers two arrangements. In six provinces, Cádiz, Valencia, Castellón, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Balearic Islands, Vox will not submit its own Senate slate, and the PP will include a Vox-proposed candidate as an independent. In 14 other provinces, Vox will field a single Senate candidate rather than a full slate. Together, the arrangements cover 20 constituencies. The pact is intended to counter Senado de progreso, a coalition including PSOE, Frente Amplio and other left-wing forces. An earlier election report also covered divisions on the left ahead of the 29 November election: an earlier election report.
The Senate uses a candidate-based ballot: voters in mainland constituencies can generally select up to three candidates, including candidates from different parties. In the 14 provinces where Vox fields one candidate, its voters can also select two PP candidates; PP voters can mark three PP candidates. In the six withdrawal provinces, the PP ballot includes the Vox-proposed independent. PP secretary general Miguel Tellado described the arrangement as a way to coordinate conservative votes without merging the parties’ lists.
In Valencia, José Luis Aguirre is the PP’s number two. A member of Les Corts, he served as agriculture, livestock and fisheries minister in the PP-Vox coalition government of the Generalitat Valenciana until summer 2024. He is 65 and trained as an agricultural engineer.
Alba Moreno takes second place for the PP in Gran Canaria. She previously worked as Javier Ortega-Smith’s press chief at Madrid City Council. After returning from maternity leave, she was removed as communications director of the municipal group; she later filed a complaint with the Supreme Court alleging degrading treatment. The court rejected it and described Ortega-Smith’s conduct as somewhat sexist.
On Tenerife, the PP’s second Senate candidate is Francisco José Francisco García Paramio, a 63-year-old consultant with a doctorate in telecommunications engineering, engineering and computing from the University of León. He led Vox’s Senate list in León in 2023.
Belén Bordils is standing for the second Senate seat on Mallorca. She directs communications for the Vox group in the Andalusian parliament and previously worked as an adviser to Vox’s municipal group in Valencia. Her career also includes 18 years at Radiotelevisió Valenciana (RTVV) and Radio Nou.
Enrique García-Máiquez, the PP’s number two in Cádiz, led Vox’s Senate list there in 2023 as an independent. He has a law degree from the University of Navarra and works as a poet and literary critic; he is also a writer. He is a member of Fundación Disenso.
Miguel Rovira is second on the PP list in Castellón. A journalism graduate, he served as chief of staff to Vox’s congressional spokesperson from 2023 to 2025 and is a member of Fundación Disenso’s Analysis Department.
The PP also renewed 60% of its leading candidates for Congress and 70% of its Senate list leaders. It did not ask Vox to include PP-backed independents in Guipúzcoa, Girona or Tarragona, where the PP is not fielding Senate candidates. The agreement covers only the Senate; outside the constituencies covered by its different arrangements, the parties will generally continue to compete separately.
