Sanchez sees off no confidence vote

Spain’s Socialist-led minority government has comfortably seen off a no-confidence vote tabled by the far-right Vox party, as the country prepares for regional and municipal elections in two months’ time and a general election before the end of the year.

although Vox’s motion, which was debated in congress last tuesday and Wednesday, was never likely to attract support from other parties, Vox had been hoping to capitalise on public anger over the government’s botched sexual offences legislation – which has resulted in reduced prison terms for hundreds of convicted felons – and its overhaul of sedition legislation.

however, as had been widely anticipated, the move was defeated by 53 votes to 201, with 91 abstentions. the conservative people’s party (pp), which is ahead of the Socialists in the polls and seeking to return to the centre ground under its newish leader, alberto núñezFeijóo, chose to abstain rather than be seen as cosying up to Vox.

analysts say the move could potentially hurt Vox’s popularity in an election year. Several recent polls projected Vox would get fewer seats than in the 2019 election. Vox based its motion on allegations that the government had sided with catalan and Basque separatists who supported its policies in parliament in exchange for concessions, “wrong and confiscatory” economic and fiscal policy and other accusations. it demanded the immediate ousting of the administration and a snap election. the two-day debate preceding the vote allowed Sanchez to take the stage to rip into the opposition and highlight his coalition