Spain's far-right party Vox poised to gain seats in divided Spain election

Record ID: 1440326

  • Title: Spain's far-right party Vox poised to gain seats in divided Spain election
  • Date: 4th November 2019
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (FILE - OCTOBER 16, 2018) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VOX PARTY LEADER, SANTIAGO ABASCAL, SAYING: "We think a Colombian citizen who is black is much easier to integrate and to co-exist with than a ginger haired person from a country in the Maghreb." Vox leader Abascal addressed supporters of Spanish unity at a party rally in Barcelona. BARCELONA, SPAIN (MARCH 30, 2019) (REUTERS) ABASCAL ARRIVING ON STAGE DURING A VOX PARTY RALLY IN THE CATALAN CAPITAL VOX SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAGS AND CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VOX PARTY LEADER SANTIAGO ABASCAL, SAYING: "Because (the status of) Spain cannot be discussed, or be part of talks or negotiated. The unity of Spain must be defended until the end." THOUSANDS OF VOX SUPPORTERS GATHERED AT BARCELONA'S 'PLACA ESPANA' HOLDING SPANISH FLAGS Vox leader Abascal took part in rallies across Spain as part of the campaign ahead of April 28 elections in 2019. MADRID, SPAIN (FILE - APRIL 6, 2019) (REUTERS) ABASCAL ARRIVING AT VOX RALLY GREETING AND WAVING AT SUPPORTERS ABASCAL SHAKING HANDS AND KISSING SUPPORTERS ABASCAL WALKING UP TO STAGE SUPPORTERS CHEERING AND WAVING SPANISH FLAGS ABASCAL, CANDIDATES FOR VOX PARTY LISTENING TO SPANISH ANTHEM CONFETTI AND COLOURED RIBBONS COMING DOWN AS PEOPLE CHEER
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2019 09:28
  • Keywords: Spain elections far-right Vox Santiago Abascal Catalonia independence
  • Location: MADRID, SEVILLE, BARCELONA, HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT & CEUTA, SPAIN/SPAIN-MOROCCO BORDER /UNKNOWN LOCATION
  • City: MADRID, SEVILLE, BARCELONA, HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT & CEUTA, SPAIN/SPAIN-MOROCCO BORDER /UNKNOWN LOCATION
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA00CB44E5ON
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS NUDITY
    Santiago Abascal's Vox party has gone from relative obscurity to major force in less than a year.
    It is the first far-right party to have more than one seat in parliament since Spain's return to democracy in the late 1970's.
    In 2018, Vox sent shockwaves through Spain's political landscape by unexpectedly winning 12 seats in Andalusia's regional parliament, which automatically allowed it to have a seat in Spain's Senate.
    The tough-talking career politician from the Basque country is gaining support in the polls with the party's pledge to "make Spain great again", - mirroring U.S. President Donald Trump's motto.
    The party founded in late 2013 by former PP members opposes gender equality laws it says discriminate against men and is also strongly against autonomy for Spain's regions. It has led a staunch campaign against Catalan independence, a major issue, attacking the government on its policies, and will use this as fuel to gain ground in the election.
    Vox had an active role in the trial of Catalan separatist leaders, seizing the opportunity to make political capital out of its fervent opposition to the independence movement.
    Under the Spanish legal system, anyone can become a co-accuser - also known as a people's prosecutor - and take part in court proceedings in such trials.
    Abascal has criticised the government for its migrant policies and called for a secure wall to be built to separate the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
    "We think a Colombian citizen who is black is much easier to integrate and to co-exist with than a ginger haired person from a country in the Maghreb," he told Reuters in a 2018 interview.
    Vox is on track to nearly double its number of seats in parliament, a poll published on Thursday (October 31) showed, which would make it the third most-voted party.
    (Production: Juan Antonio Dominguez, Guillermo Martinez, Sergio Perez, Miguel Gutierrez, Marcelo del Pozo, Michael Gore, Jordi Rubio, Silvio Castellanos, Miguel Gutierrez, Anna Valderrama, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Liza Feria)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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