Spain's PP and Vox Remain Divided on Censure Motions Against Sánchez Government

Vox's Attempts to Oust Sánchez

The far-right Vox party in Spain has twice initiated censure motions against the Socialist-led coalition government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, both of which ultimately failed. These motions underscored significant political divisions within the Spanish opposition, particularly with the conservative Popular Party (PP).

The first censure motion, brought by Vox in October 2020, cited the government's alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vox leader Santiago Abascal was proposed as the alternative Prime Minister. This motion garnered only 52 votes in favor, exclusively from Vox's Members of Parliament, and was overwhelmingly rejected with 298 votes against. The PP, then under the leadership of Pablo Casado, voted against the motion, accusing Vox of engaging in 'revenge' politics and inadvertently aiding the government.

A second attempt by Vox occurred in March 2023, with the party proposing independent economist Ramón Tamames as the alternative candidate for Prime Minister. Vox justified this motion by accusing Sánchez's government of attacking national unity, poor governance, and reforms to the Criminal Code concerning embezzlement and sedition. This motion also failed, receiving 53 votes in favor, 201 against, and 91 abstentions.

PP's Strategic Abstention and Opposition

The Popular Party's approach to these censure motions has evolved, reflecting a strategic divergence from Vox. In 2020, the PP's outright opposition to Vox's motion was a clear attempt to distance itself from the far-right party.

By 2023, under the leadership of Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the PP opted to abstain from the vote. Feijóo described the motion as a 'parliamentary show' but stated that the abstention was out of respect for Tamames's 'biography and academic level'. Feijóo has consistently expressed a preference for gaining power through general elections rather than a censure motion, emphasizing that he wants to be 'elected by the Spanish people at the polls'. The PP has also indicated its intention to frame upcoming local and regional elections as a de facto censure motion against the Sánchez government.

Feasibility and Political Landscape

Both censure motions initiated by Vox were widely considered unlikely to succeed due to the parliamentary arithmetic. A censure motion in Spain requires an absolute majority of 176 votes in the Congress of Deputies to pass. The lack of broader support from other parliamentary groups, particularly the PP, ensured their defeat. The divisions between the two main right-wing parties, PP and Vox, on the timing and feasibility of such motions highlight the complex political landscape in Spain as they both seek to challenge the incumbent Socialist-led government.