Spanish Socialists Face Setback in Aragon Regional Election
The conservative People’s Party (PP) secured 26 seats in Aragon’s 67-member parliament, down from 28, falling short of an outright majority despite winning 34.3% of the vote. Sánchez’s Socialists suffered their worst regional outcome ever, dropping to 18 seats from 23 with 24.3% backing. Meanwhile, the far-right Vox doubled its representation to 14 seats, finishing third. Aragon, often dubbed “Spain’s Ohio,” is seen as a bellwether for national political trends.
“This is not the result we hoped for,” said Socialist candidate Pilar Alegria, who stepped down as education minister to run in the regional election. “Aragon now faces an uncertain horizon.”
Sunday marked the first of three regional votes scheduled in areas traditionally held by the PP, followed by Castilla y León in March and Andalusia in June.
Both the PP and the Socialists centered their Aragon campaigns on broader national debates. The PP positioned the election as a de facto referendum on the prime minister, whose coalition has been rocked by scandals implicating his party, allies, and close aides. Sánchez’s own popularity has also suffered amid corruption allegations involving at least two senior aides and his wife.
Debates in Aragón, home to roughly 1.3 million people, were dominated by Sánchez’s controversial plan to legalize some 500,000 immigrants. Opposition leaders condemned the proposal, framing it as politically motivated and irresponsible. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijoo accused Sánchez of attempting to “deflect attention” from a mounting national crisis after several recent fatal passenger train accidents that killed dozens.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal took an even harsher stance, claiming the government was fostering a large-scale “invasion” to “replace” the local population and demanding mass deportations.
The shift in Aragon mirrors broader European trends, where right-wing and conservative parties have been buoyed by public anxiety over immigration, economic instability, and political scandals. In the 2024 European Parliament elections, France’s National Rally captured 31% of the vote, Austria’s Freedom Party led the polls, and Germany’s AfD made notable gains. Right-leaning forces also advanced in Belgium, Italy, and Hungary.
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