Juanma Moreno has made clear that his priority is still to govern Andalucia alone despite losing his parliamentary majority in Sunday’s regional election.
Negotiations over the new government have not yet formally begun, but the first political battle lines are already emerging after the Partido Popular fell two seats short of an absolute majority.
Speaking in Madrid before attending his party’s National Executive Committee meeting, Moreno argued that the election result was still ‘strong enough’ to justify a single-party PP government.
‘What the majority of Andalucians decided was for us to govern alone,’ he said.
The acting regional president pointed out that the PP finished just 21,000 votes short of an outright majority, insisting the party’s 53 seats still represent a ‘solid majority’ that gives it ‘room to manoeuvre’ in parliament.
He also ruled out heading back to the electorate for another vote.
However, Moreno also acknowledged that parliamentary arithmetic would force his party to seek agreements with other groups.
His comments appeared to contain an early message to Vox after the far-right party emerged as kingmaker by increasing its representation to 15 seats.
‘Others talk about national priorities, our priority is Andalucia,’ Moreno said, distancing himself from Vox’s broader national agenda.
But Vox has already begun applying pressure on the PP leader.
Leader Santiago Abascal had warned during the campaign that his party wanted a quick resolution after the election, and attention is now turning towards June 11, when the new Andalucian parliament will formally convene.
By then, both parties are expected to reveal whether any agreement is close.
Meanwhile, Vox parliamentary leader Manuel Gavira signalled that his party intends to play hardball during negotiations.
‘There are many people inside the PP who are in a hurry to hand out positions,’ Gavira said.
‘We are in a hurry to change the direction of Andalucia and change the policies currently in place.’
Gavira also warned Moreno that voters had effectively forced him to negotiate with Vox.
‘Moreno Bonilla asked for a majority so he would not depend on Vox, and Andalusians have told him he must now reach an understanding with us,’ he said.
The Vox leader pointed to agreements already reached between the PP and Vox in other Spanish regions including Extremadura and Aragon, while predicting similar arrangements elsewhere.
He also outlined the party’s first major demand would be implementing Vox’s so-called ‘national priority’ policies in Andalucia – a controversial platform focused heavily on immigration and social policy.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
