Spanish local governments face deadline to finalise coalition arrangements

Today is the deadline for Spain’s local governments to be formed after the elections on 28 May.

Spanish voters delivered an historic 45 of 906 seats for the far-right Vox Party, a representative high not seen since the death of Francisco Franco in 1975.

In Madrid, for example Ciudadanos, Vox and the conservative Popular Party (PP) have given their support to Juan Trinidad of Ciudadanos to preside over the regional assembly. This will likely lead to a right-wing regional government.

There are now potential shocks to Spanish immigration policies on the horizon. Vox’s leader, Santiago Abascal, has often spoken of building a wall at Spain’s Ceuta and Melilla borders to “halt the waves of illegal immigrants” from Morocco. Further statements could strain the relationship between the strategic and friendly neighbours with a more prominent far-right in the Spanish government.

The French Minister of European Affairs in Amelie de Montchalin has already voiced her displeasure at these developments, refuting their rise as a viable option for a continued healthy relationship with France.