Juanma Moreno and Santiago Abascal were seen holding a lengthy conversation in Madrid at the weekend, fuelling speculation that negotiations over the future government of Andalucia are finally underway.
The two leaders met during the official reception for Pope Leo XIV at Madrid’s Royal Palace, where they were photographed greeting each other before speaking for around half an hour in full view of guests and media.
Neither side has revealed what was discussed, but Moreno’s team appeared to acknowledge the obvious political significance of the encounter.
The meeting comes just weeks after Andalucia’s regional election left Moreno’s Partido Popular (PP) short of an outright majority.
The PP secured 53 seats, two short of the number needed to govern alone, while Vox increased its representation to 15 seats and now holds the balance of power in the regional parliament.
Since the election on May 17, both parties have remained largely silent about any potential agreement, leading to growing frustration within Vox ranks.
Senior figures in Abascal’s party have repeatedly called on Moreno to open talks, reminding the PP leader that his path back to the presidency likely depends on their support.
Moreno has made clear he does not want a coalition government and has so far ruled out handing ministerial positions to Vox, arguing that the PP’s significantly larger parliamentary presence does not justify sharing power.
However, Saturday’s meeting suggests contact between the two camps is now taking place as key parliamentary deadlines approach.
The new Andalusian parliament is due to be constituted on June 11, when lawmakers will elect the chamber’s governing body.
Political observers believe the PP could offer Vox influential positions within parliament in exchange for support during an investiture vote, while avoiding a formal coalition arrangement.
Vox has pointed to coalition agreements already secured with the PP in other regions, including Extremadura, Aragon and Castilla y Leon, where the party has obtained vice-presidential posts and several ministerial portfolios.
Those deals have raised expectations among Vox supporters that Andalucia should not be treated differently.
The biggest stumbling blocks are expected to be immigration policies and Vox’s demand for what it calls ‘national priority’ measures, proposals that Moreno has previously dismissed as illegal and little more than electoral slogans.
Despite the differences, both parties privately appear confident that an agreement can be reached.
Few in either camp believe Andalucia will be forced back to the polls, but with the parliamentary clock about to start ticking, the pressure to strike a deal is growing.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
