In the early general election in Spain, the center-right People's Party (PP) secured first place, making it likely for the far-right to participate in the government for the first time in 48 years since the end of dictatorship. The trend of the left-wing declining and the right-wing wave spreading is intensifying, especially among Southern European countries facing financial crises such as Italy and Greece.
On the 23rd (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that according to exit polls, the main opposition party, the People's Party, is expected to secure at least 40% of the seats in the lower house election, surpassing the ruling center-left Spanish Socialist Workers' Party to become the largest party.
Both inside and outside Spain, it is widely anticipated that the People's Party will likely join forces with the far-right party Vox. Although the People's Party has not officially declared an intention to form a coalition government with Vox, major foreign media including WSJ have emphasized the likelihood of the two parties joining hands. This is supported by the fact that after the ruling party's defeat in the local elections last May, the People's Party and Vox signed coalition agreements in at least 25 cities.
WSJ stated, "As Spain faces a severe economic crisis due to increasing illegal immigration and high inflation, it will join the ranks of European countries where far-right parties are gaining ground."
If the People's Party and Vox form a government, it will be the first time in 48 years since the end of Francisco Franco's dictatorship in 1975 that a far-right party participates in the government. Spain, which was oppressed by fascism, had not seen far-right forces like Vox rise since the democratic constitution was enacted in 1978, but the atmosphere has changed in recent years.
Vox advocates for the expulsion of all illegal immigrants entering Spain and also calls for the deportation of legal immigrants if they commit crimes. The party opposes abortion and does not respect the rights of sexual minorities. It also does not believe that climate change poses a global crisis. Vox has even argued against the need to eradicate sexual violence and has called for revisions to related laws.
The rise of far-right minor parties is an extension of the rightward shift in European politics, alongside the landslide victory of the center-right ruling party led by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Other European countries have already experienced the rise of far-right parties. In Italy, far-right-leaning Giorgia Meloni became prime minister last year for the first time in 100 years, and in Sweden, the Sweden Democrats, who advocate white supremacy, have become the second-largest party in parliament. The right-wing wave is spreading mainly among Southern European countries facing severe economic difficulties.
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