Political Maneuvering Intensifies Ahead of Castilla y León Elections with PP and Vox Strategies

As the Castilla y León regional elections approach on March 15, political tensions escalate with key maneuvers by the Partido Popular (PP) and Vox shaping the electoral battlefield. The PP has summoned former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to the Senate to testify about his connections with Plus Ultra and Venezuela, a move criticized by the Socialist Party as a partisan ploy intended to influence the elections, following similar tactics reportedly used in Aragón and Extremadura. Meanwhile, Vox's leader Santiago Abascal forecasts his party will surpass its previous limits in Castilla y León amid significant mobilization across towns and cities. Abascal asserted that Vox aims to become the second leading party in various regions, presenting itself as the only effective alternative to the Socialists. He acknowledged ongoing negotiations with the PP but pointed out the latter's unpredictability in honoring agreements, complicating collaboration. Both Abascal and PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo agree on the importance of avoiding vote splitting to defeat the Socialist Party. Feijóo has also influenced the political narrative by bringing attention to the former king's return, prompting the Royal House to clarify conditions for Juan Carlos I's residency, countering prior claims about republican pressures from the Socialist government. These developments reflect the complex interplay of alliances and rivalry as parties vie for regional dominance, with Vox's growing influence poised to impact the election outcome significantly.