Spain votes amid right-wing hopes of a conservative wave
Washington PostAug 03, 2023
The Facts
Spain's right-wing political bloc — comprised of the Popular Party (PP) and Vox — has become the largest in the Congress of Deputies, but failed to pass the 176-majority threshold as the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) fared better than expected in Sunday's vote.
With the ballot count nearly completed, a hung parliament looms in Spain. Provisional results show the PP and Vox hold 136 and 33 seats, respectively, while the PSOE garnered 122 and another left-wing party, named Sumar, obtained 31.
The Spin
Left narrative
Spaniards have sent a resounding message to neofascist groups at home and across the continent by denying Vox's xenophobic members, and their conservative allies of the Popular Party, a majority in parliament. Though this battle is won the war isn't over, and it will take all of the centrists and progressives to fight this threatening trend and promote social and economic policies to improve living standards.
Right narrative
Whether deliberately or honestly, the mainstream English-language media has misrepresented nationalist movements — whose popularity is on the rise across Europe — by depicting them as evil fascists assaulting minorities. In fact, they are center-right by US standards. All the parties in this Spanish bloc are doing is advocating common sense and cultural self-defense in a world being shaken up by globalism.
