Demonstrations to try to capitalize on social discontent

Vox takes to the streets this weekend to try to capitalize on the growing social discontent over the economic impact of the war in Ukraine. Along with its union, Solidarity, the far-right party is organizing rallies this Saturday at noon in front of the town halls in a call that will have its epicenter in a demonstration in Madrid that aims to be massive. The formation of Santiago Abascal, in addition, will join the march called by the rural world on Sunday in the capital, which will also be attended by representatives of the PP.

Vox is determined to take advantage of the moment to establish itself as an alternative to the Government of Pedro Sánchez. The opportunity comes at a particularly sweet moment for his interests, with all the electoral polls coinciding with an increase in support and, in some of them, even caressing the ‘sorpasso’ of the PP in the right-wing bloc. It also takes place just a few days after his debut in institutional power in Spain, with the presidency of the Cortes of Castilla y León and his imminent incorporation into the Junta with the vice presidency and three ministries.

With the PP involved in its internal succession process and in full negotiations with the Government for a country understanding that responds to the economic consequences of the war, Vox seeks to make a profile and capitalize on the incipient wave of social outrage at the rise in prices. Unlike the popular ones, who govern in five autonomous communities, those of Abascal do not feel the pressure on their backs to take urgent measures that relieve the citizens’ pockets. And that is an important ball of oxygen to redouble his strategy of hard opposition in Congress and extend it to the streets.

At the party’s headquarters they hope to reveal a powerful mobilization photograph this Saturday. It is not the first time that Vox has resorted to calls in front of the town hall. He has already done it on other occasions, for example, in defense of the Constitution and against the PSOE and Podemos pacts with the independence movement. But in those appointments, such as the one in January 2020, he came to face obvious assistance punctures, especially in territories where he has little presence. That is why this time the Abascal leadership will combine these scattered calls with a central demonstration in Madrid.

The claim of the calls – the main one will be held in the Plaza de Cibeles, next to the City Council, and will have a speech by the president of the formation himself – is «energy sovereignty» as a recipe against the rise in the price of electricity and fuels. “The government is looting you. Come out and defend yourself!” the poster shouts. But the organizers also do not hide that the protest goes far beyond the energy section and extends to the entire response of the Sánchez Executive to the crisis.

Support for the transport stoppage

Throughout this week, Vox has been heating up the concentrations and has found a springboard in the carriers’ strike, called by a minority part of the sector but which is having a significant impact on supply chains, to the point of requiring a significant deployment of National Police and Civil Guard. The formation has supported the stoppages, “legitimate” according to Abascal, and has started a melee with the Government, which attributes the mobilizations to “ultra groups” and a “boycott encouraged by the extreme right.”

After the appointment this Saturday at noon, Vox will return to the streets on Sunday, this time to support the march of the rural world convened in Madrid by agricultural associations, hunters and the bull sector. There, on the contrary, he will not be alone politically speaking because he will meet a representation of the PP. In Genoa they have decided to join the call of the field to prevent the extreme right from monopolizing the claims in a matter that Abascal usually makes flag.