Vox has emerged as the second most voted party in 10 municipalities across Malaga province following Andalucia’s regional election on Sunday.

The party, led provincially by Antonio Sevilla, increased its support by more than 20,000 votes compared to the 2022 vote.

Vox secured 108,874 votes across Malaga province this time around, up from 88,215 four years ago, representing a modest rise of around one percentage point.

It was enough, however, to consolidate its position as the third political force in the province with 15.54% of the vote.

The party also came within just 1,110 votes of winning a third parliamentary seat in Malaga province, although it ultimately went to the PP.

While Vox performed worse than it did in Spain’s last general election – when it obtained almost 129,000 votes in Malaga province – the result still represents a major improvement on the party’s showing in the 2023 municipal elections, where it secured just over 47,000 votes.

One of the clearest signs of Vox’s advance is its performance in several major Costa del Sol towns.

The party finished as the second largest political force in municipalities including Mijas and Estepona, as well as in Alhaurin el Grande, Manilva, Coin, Benahavia, Casares, Competa, Canillas de Albaida and Frigiliana.

They are all hugely popular with expat and immigrant communities, with many also facing pressures due to the surging tourism industry.

Four years ago, Vox was second only in Coin, Benahavis and Alhaurin el Grande.

Its growth was especially notable in Manilva and Casares, where the party had ranked fourth in the 2022 regional election.

In Malaga city itself, Vox finished third in every district.

Elsewhere, the party came close to overtaking the PSOE in several major municipalities.

In Alhaurin de la Torre, Vox finished just 146 votes behind the PSOE, while in Torrox the gap was only 190 votes.

In traditionally left-leaning Velez-Malaga, the difference between PSOE and Vox was just 340 votes.

The margins were similarly tight in smaller municipalities. In Ojen, Vox finished only 38 votes behind the PSOE, while in Juzcar and Farajan the Socialists held second place by just four votes.

One symbolic result came in Sedella – one of the few remaining strongholds of the traditional left in Malaga province – where Vox secured two more votes than the Por Andalucia coalition.

Antonio Sevilla described the results as proof that Vox is ‘stronger than four years ago’.

‘We have many reasons to be happy’ he said, adding that the party’s focus would now be on ‘defending the votes’ it received.

Sevilla also repeated Vox’s controversial call for ‘national priority’ policies that would give Spaniards preferential access to social benefits and public housing.

‘We want priority for people from Malaga when it comes to social aid and protected housing,’ he said.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.