The Senate deal leaves Vox with a limited role in several provinces: the party is withdrawing there while some of its members will stand as independents. Reached ahead of the 29 November general election, the pact covers 23 provinces and uses three different formulas to keep right-wing votes from competing against one another in the upper house. In six provinces, Vox-backed candidates will appear as independents on PP lists; in 14 others, Vox will field a single Senate candidate, and voters can select that candidate alongside two PP candidates. In three provinces, the PP will not compete, leaving Vox as the sole right-wing candidacy. The arrangement coordinates candidacies, rather than forming a formal electoral coalition, and does not require parliamentary approval.
The six provinces where Vox is not presenting a separate list are Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Cádiz, Valencia, Castellón and the Balearic Islands. The PP, in turn, has withdrawn in Tarragona, Girona and Gipuzkoa. Vox’s six candidates set to appear as independents on PP ballots are Alba Moreno, Yeray Antonio Suárez Salem, Enrique García-Máiquez, José Luis Aguirre Larrauri, Miguel Rovira and Belén Bordils Girona.
The pact comes as electoral lists for the 29 November elections have been registered. Recent media polls show the PP losing support at a sharp pace, with Vox among the main beneficiaries. One cited poll put Vox at 18.9%. The Comuns have also withdrawn their Senate candidacies in Girona. They pulled out in Tarragona and Lleida after reaching an agreement with the PSC.
Street violence has become another focus of the campaign. Weekend events in Barcelona and online calls linked to Blocus drew attention. The disturbances took place on 24 October after mobilisation through the anonymous platform, whose activity was traced to 18 localities across 11 autonomous communities. A Golden Owl study, from a startup linked to the Science Park of the University of Alicante, reviewed more than 10,000 items across seven digital platforms; the network’s first identified message appeared on 8 October. About 500 people gathered in Barcelona, and the event was followed by nearly four hours of looting. The reported toll was 130 arrests, including 76 minors, and 14 injured police officers. Blocus calls were also advertised for 31 October, 2 November and 30 November in 12 Spanish cities. Footage of the Barcelona looting was used to promote possible gatherings elsewhere. In Bilbao, PP secretary general Miguel Tellado said the disturbances were not isolated and blamed the Government. Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo accused Pedro Sánchez of stoking unrest after losing control of the streets.
On 27 October, Ceuta put the exceptional costs linked to the mass arrival of migrants at €45.32 million. The Supreme Court rejected the city’s request for the Government to return migrants without first hearing the Government’s arguments. Separately, National Audience Court judge María Tardón asked the Council of Ministers to urgently declassify further National Intelligence Centre material relating to the investigation; the roundup said she gave the Government 15 days. A judge also summoned three Moroccans who entered the city during the crisis.
Other campaign disputes covered housing policy and education. The Government plans to take its housing decrees to the Permanent Deputation after the general strike. The roundup also reported that half of PP and Vox voters support higher taxes for people who own more than one home. A separate political row concerns competition between the right and far right over education, with Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, CEU and HazteOír among the names in the debate.
In party news, the former leader of Podemos Andalucía has joined the Frente Amplio candidacy in Málaga after leaving the party. Enrique Santiago is set to lead the Frente Amplio list in Seville. Ayuso also defended Feijóo against criticism; earlier coverage of Madrid mayors examined her allies’ positions on his Congress list.
Feijóo defended the Senate pact as a response to what he called the PSOE’s alignment with the radical left, and repeated his allegation that Morocco is pressuring the Government. He also said he was prepared to govern during lean economic times. Ayuso rejected criticism of his record in personal terms.
Polling analyst Michavila said Sánchez had shown staying power and left open the possibility that the PSOE could emerge as the most-voted party on 29 November. On the same day, Iustitia Europa asked the Supreme Court to suspend the 29 November vote for children of people naturalised under the law of grandchildren.
The Government has also subsidised the Quiero Abortar website with €300,000. The site provides information on how to obtain an abortion in each autonomous community. Police unions and Guardia Civil associations ended the day occupying the Interior Ministry to demand what they described as a dignified retirement.
