Progressive bloc, VOX clash ahead of Sunday’s key elections

The far-right VOX laughs at women and denies the existence of gender violence, the progressive bloc that unites Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Party (PSOE) and the Sumar platform said in Wednesday’s last election debate ahead of Sunday’s crunch vote.

Although the debate began calmly, the candidates for PSOE and Sumar, Sánchez and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, respectively, had a tough confrontation with VOX candidate and leader Santiago Abascal over the rights of women, trans people, and the LGTBQI+ community.

Things became particularly tense in the debate held on public broadcaster RTVE when Díaz presented a photo to the camera of two VOX politicians laughing in an act of homage to a woman victim of gender violence.

Vox ‘laughs’ at women

“Stop laughing at us”, “apologise”, Díaz told Abascal, while he claimed it was a “manipulated photograph”.

“Respect us, Mr Abascal, women are not political merchandise”, the leader of the left-wing platform that brings together 15 progressive parties stressed.

Even if VOX does not believe this, gender violence exists, Díaz told Abascal, citing the 1,212 murders of women since 2003. She also noted the many times VOX had voted against numerous laws in defence of women and the LGTBQI community approved by the coalition government of PSOE and Unidas Podemos (EU Left).

“I am not afraid of you, Mr Abascal”, Díaz added at the height of the debate.

“You will never govern”, she added, referring to VOX’s sexist policies, which it has already begun to implement in some Spanish regions.

While the debate was divided into various blocks, including the economy, social policy and post-electoral pacts, the most controversial issue was focused on VOX’s radical policies on gender and climate change, and in particular on the rights of the LGTBQI+ community.

“I have a clear idea of what a woman is,” said Abascal in a defiant tone, to which Díaz ironically asked, “Tell us, what is a woman for you?”

Sánchez maintained a more moderate and serene tone, particularly compared to the first debate, where he debated Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the candidate of Partido Popular (PP/EPP), the centre-right party currently leading the polls.

Until Tuesday, almost all the polls pointed to a victory for PP in Sunday’s elections, although it is likely that if it does not obtain the 176 seats required to have an absolute majority in the 350-seat parliament, it will have to form a coalition with VOX.

Feijóo ‘ashamed’ to appear next to VOX

Despite being invited to Wednesday’s debate, the PP leader declined the invitation – something Sánchez and Díaz used to criticise him while he was not in the room.

Feijóo is “ashamed to appear in public” alongside VOX’s leader, said Sánchez, referring to the centre-right leader’s decision not to attend the debate.

However, “he is not ashamed of VOX’s votes”, the socialist candidate added, referring to the VOX-PP alliances formed in several Spanish city councils and autonomous communities following the municipal and regional elections of 28 May.

‘Yolanda’ and ‘Pedro’

While Sánchez and Díaz have on several occasions expressed their willingness to form a progressive coalition government if they have enough votes, the chemistry between them was palpable in Wednesday’s debate.

On several occasions, they called each other by their first names: “Yolanda”, “Pedro”, “I know you, Yolanda”.

This contrasts sharply with Sánchez’s relationship with the former leader and founder of the now almost extinct Unidas Podemos Pablo Iglesias, who named Díaz his “natural successor” a few years ago.

Both Sánchez and Díaz accused the VOX leader of wanting to take Spain backwards when tackling social rights issues or climate change, which VOX denies.

“Denying climate change is the same as denying that the Earth is round”, said Sánchez, recalling that VOX follows the same radical ideas as Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro or Viktor Orban.

The socialist candidate raised what the alternative is for the day after the elections and what is at stake.

“Spaniards must decide whether to stand up on 24 July in the year 2023 or in the year 1973”, he stressed.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.EURACTIV.es)

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