VOX is simply a Spanish political organization founded in 2013 by erstwhile members of the People's organization (PP). The group represented a tough right from the start, opposing separatist movements in Catalonia, immigration and the climate policy of the European Union. In its programme, the organization proclaims slogans related to the protection of Spanish identity, household defence and national sovereignty.
The organization leader is Santiago Abascal, a politician known for his conservative views and strong anti-establishment rhetoric. In fresh years VOX has gained considerable popularity, especially among voters disappointed by the regulation of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
In the 2023 parliamentary election, VOX gained 52 seats (15.1%) in the Spanish legislature of Deputies, which meant an increase compared to the 2019 fall election erstwhile it won 24 seats (10.3%).
According to fresh polls, if the vote were held today, VOX would have taken 3rd place, behind the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers organization (PSOE) and the opposition People's organization (PP). The organization consistently maintains support of 14-15%, allowing it to be a key ally for the centre-right in future government coalitions.
Meanwhile, after the elections in Germany, Elon Musk, a billionaire, owner of Tesla, SpaceX and platform X (formerly Twitter), publically expressed his support for VOX. In a short message on X, he wrote:
"Vox wins next election"
This is not the first time Musk has engaged in European politics. He previously supported alternate for Germany (AfD) and worked closely with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
VOX is part of the European political initiative “Patrioci for Europe”. It is an alliance of right-wing parties, including AfD in Germany, Fidesz in Hungary and the French National Assembly Marine Le Pen. The aim of the group is to strengthen the influence of Eurosceptics in the European Parliament and to weaken the climate policy of the European Union.
During the fresh CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) conference in Washington, D.C., Santiago Abascal met with Donald Trump and Argentine president Javier Milei, strengthening the group's global ties.
