Spain's Vox Party Withdraws from Regional Governments Over Migration Policy Clash

Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain's far-right Vox party, announced withdrawing from five regional coalitions with the People's Party due to disagreements on migration policies. The exit could affect the governance and budget approvals in regions like Valencia and Murcia. The central government seeks regional support for relocating minor migrants.

Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spain's far-right Vox party, announced late Thursday that his party would withdraw from five regional government coalitions with the centre-right People's Party (PP). The decision stems from disagreements on migration policy.

The PP, which governs regions including Valencia in partnership with Vox, supported a plan by Spain's central Socialist-led government to relocate approximately 400 minor migrants from the Canary Islands to the mainland. Abascal's departure could jeopardize the ability of these regional governments to function effectively.

In recent years, Vox has emerged as Spain's third-largest party. However, the party saw a decrease in its share of the vote in the 2023 national elections. The conflict over migration policies highlights the challenge of managing the influx of underage migrants while balancing political alliances.

(With inputs from agencies.)