Spain’s PP gains power as Vox moderates demands.

Spain’s conservative People’s Party believes it could break a political deadlock and form a government after the hard-right Vox party hinted it would not insist on being part of a coalition in exchange for support. Vox announced that its 33 lawmakers would “support a majority” for the right-wing bloc in the Spanish parliament’s lower house to prevent the Socialists (PSOE) from making pacts with Catalan and Basque separatists and forming what Vox describes as “a government of national destruction”. The PP’s general coordinator, Elias Bendodo, said this gesture would pave the way for other minor parties, who objected to Vox’s involvement, to support the PP in an investiture vote. However, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) quickly refuted Bendodo’s claim, stating that its position remained unchanged. The PNV has previously stated that it would not negotiate with the PP to form a government involving Vox.

Spain’s election last month resulted in a stalemate, with neither the right-wing nor left-wing blocs winning enough seats for a majority. The PP and Vox, previously seen as potential coalition partners, earned a combined 170 seats in the 350-seat lower house, falling short of the 176 lawmakers needed for a parliamentary majority. As the party with the most seats, the PP is expected to be given the first opportunity to form a government when parliament convenes on August 17 by Spain’s King Felipe VI. The PNV, with five seats, has previously supported the PP but has also developed closer ties with the Socialists (PSOE). The PP may also need to secure support from Coalicion Canaria, which has one seat but has stated it will not support a government involving Vox.

Vox did not respond to a Reuters request for clarification, but a party source stated that it meant it would not seek cabinet positions in exchange for parliamentary support and would not block support for the PP from the PNV, despite past opposition due to policies promoting Basque language and culture. The PSOE, with 152 seats together with ally Sumar, also has a path to power but will require difficult negotiations with Catalan separatists, including hardliner Junts, which demands a fresh vote on independence in return.

(Additional reporting by David Latona and Aislinn Laing; editing by Christina Fincher)