Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Spanish party Vox, has reached out to the Partido Popular (PP) with an offer to negotiate. In his statement he said that Vox "maintains the will of some understanding" that would protect the Senate from the pacts that Sánchez has struck with the extreme left. This gesture is described as an olive branch, a signal that Abascal is open to dialogue despite the usual partisan divide.
The Spanish Senate is portrayed by Abascal as a institution that must be defended from the influence of the PSOE and its coalition partners, including the Frente Amplio. He argues that the Senate should be shielded from the agreements that Sánchez has reached with those groups. The Senate’s role in confirming key institutional positions makes it a focal point of the current political struggle.
Today in Spanish politics: PSOE, Sumar and Podemos are running a joint list in the Senate elections Meanwhile, PP and Vox rule out running together The Senate elections heavily favour the largest party due to a weird electoral system. Meaning PSOE, Sumar and Podemos could win a Senate majority together The Spanish Senate has few powers. Congress can override it with a majority if it votes against legislation. But most importantly -> the Senate picks the judges of the Supreme Court and has several constitution-related powers
To achieve his objective, Abascal stresses the need for a qualified majority in the Senate. Such a majority is required to appoint or block certain high‑level offices. By aligning with the PP, Vox hopes to gather enough votes to reach that threshold and thereby prevent the left‑wing coalition from shaping the Senate’s composition.
Abascal urges a massive turnout to counteract what he describes as potential fraud and manipulation.
Abascal accuses Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of using threats and coercion to sway the upcoming electoral process. He also claims that Sánchez has resorted to "street violence" to press his advantage. These allegations are part of Abascal’s broader warning that the prime minister is willing to govern by any means and appears to enjoy issuing such threats.
The immediate context for these maneuvers is the Senate election scheduled for 2023‑11‑29. Abascal urges a massive turnout to counteract what he describes as potential fraud and manipulation. He frames the vote as a decisive moment to block Sánchez’s alleged attempts to control the outcome.
Looking beyond the imminent vote, Vox and the PP are set to hold a potential alliance meeting on 2026‑10‑19. On that same date, Abascal is said to have reached out to the PP and offered to negotiate. This future encounter is presented as a continuation of the dialogue initiated by the olive branch.
There is no room for complacency about the future of Spanish democracy. https://t.co/SN7mcetJh5
Abascal’s remarks are repeated in several quotes that capture his dual tone. He insists that Vox "maintains the will of some understanding" to protect the Senate from Sánchez’s accords with the extreme left. At the same time, he warns that Sánchez has declared he will continue governing "one way or another" and seems to relish delivering that threat. These statements encapsulate the party’s strategy of seeking cooperation while sounding the alarm about the prime minister’s conduct.
