People's Party in Spain signals concession to far-right Vox over domestic violence law

People's Party in Spain signals concession to far-right Vox over domestic violence law
Copyright VOX/Twitter
By Euronews with Agencies
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Spain's far-right Vox party says it will pull its support for a People's Party (PP) and Ciudadanos coalition government in Andalusia unless the parties agree to overturn domestic violence legislation Vox deems part of the "radical feminist agenda."

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Spain's People's Party (PP) offered its first concession to the far-right Vox party's demand to overturn domestic violence legislation in Andalusia.

Vox had warned it would pull its support for the PP and Ciudadanos coalition government in the southern Spanish region unless the parties agreed to change legislation it deemed part of "radical feminist associations".

The party's spokesperson in Andalusia's parliament, Francisco Serrano, said in a tweet that Vox wanted to eliminate "prejudices" and "respect the presumption of innocence, judicial independence," as well as "to put an end to million-dollar subsidies that encourage feminist supremacy and left-wing ideology."

The PP proposed that aid to victims of gender-based violence be extended to men.

This move sparked tension among leaders of the PP, some of whom believe the concession hands over political power to the smaller Vox Party, an electoral rival.

The leader of the PP's, Pablo Casado, team said, however, that the priority was to achieve a government in Andalusia.

Santiago Abascal, the Vox leader, said no official offer regarding domestic violence had been received but welcomed reports of the PP's offer calling it "a good start."

Vox won 12 seats in regional elections in late 2018, campaigning on an extreme anti-immigrant, anti-feminist agenda. The vote marked a historic shift in the region's political map after being dominated by the Socialist Party (PSOE) since 1982.

Coalition talks have been ongoing since the December 2 elections and Vox has played a pivotal role in backing a deal between the centre-right PP and conservative Cuidadanos.

Last week, Marta Bosquet of Cuidadanos was elected Andalusia's parliament speaker, thanks to support from PP and Vox, also paving the way for PP's Juan Manuel Moreno to take over as Andalusia's premiere.

Now Vox says the parties must commit to cutting grants and aid to groups that support victims of domestic violence. Vox said in a tweet they subsidise measures "dictated" by "gender ideology with radical feminist associations".

Serrano said Vox wouldn't accept agreements signed by PP and Cuidadanos to promote national gender laws in the region.

Cuidadanos leader, Albert Rivera, said in a tweet that his party would continue to fight gender-based violence in Andalusia and all of Spain's autonomous communities.

"Freedom and equality are not negotiable," he said.

"Fighting against sexist violence with resources and measures is not an option, it is an obligation for all. 

"We signed the State pact (a government programme to fight domestic violence) and we will apply it in Andalusia and all the autonomous communities in which we govern. 

"Freedom and equality are non-negotiable."

In the main picture of this article, VOX's Andalusia leader, Javier Ortega Smith (centre), is shown posing with members of the Spanish Legion.

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