Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
PP and Vox consider tacit cooperation in Spain’s Senate race
Spain’s PP and Vox are keeping their campaign rivalry in check as they look ahead to Senate elections.
The parties have not agreed to form a coalition or formally coordinate, but both see limiting conflict as a way to avoid weakening the right-wing vote.
The Senate’s voting system lets voters choose up to three candidates, rather than voting for a single party list, which can benefit the strongest candidates in each political bloc.
The PP currently holds an absolute majority in the chamber, but the main left-wing parties are planning to run together, while the right has two major parties.
Vox is examining possible ways to cooperate with the PP, including not standing in some provinces or urging voters to split their choices between the parties.
No decision has been made, and the parties may still challenge each other’s policies during the campaign.
Their shared aim is to prevent Pedro Sánchez from remaining in power, but the next steps will depend on whether they decide to coordinate as the campaign develops.
Spain’s PP and Vox are considering ways to avoid splitting right-wing votes in the Senate race, but have not agreed on any cooperation.
Vox leaders are examining options including not running in some provinces or asking voters to divide their votes between the parties’ candidates.
The Senate’s voting system allows each voter to choose up to three candidates, which can favor the strongest candidacies in each political bloc.
The two parties have privately sought to avoid attacking each other during the pre-campaign, while acknowledging that they may disagree during the campaign.
The discussions follow a PSOE agreement to run in a Senate coalition with several progressive parties.
- Who
- Spain’s People’s Party (PP) and Vox.
- What
- They are considering tacit cooperation in the Senate race to avoid splitting votes. No agreement has been made.
- When
- The report was published on October 17, 2026, and updated on October 18.
- Where
- Spain’s Senate election.
- Why
- The parties want to maximize the right’s result and prevent Pedro Sánchez from remaining in power.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The PSOE agreed to run in a Senate coalition with progressive parties including Movimiento Sumar, Más Madrid, Izquierda Unida, Compromís and Chunta.
Vox’s leadership was examining possible forms of tacit cooperation with the PP, but had made no decision.
The PP and Vox had each decided privately to avoid clashing with one another.
- Senate voting system
- Each voter can choose up to three candidates, regardless of party.
- Current Senate majority
- The PP has an absolute majority.
- Possible cooperation
- Vox could stay out of some provinces or urge voters to divide their votes between PP and Vox candidates.
- Formal agreement
- No Senate cooperation deal has been negotiated.
- PSOE coalition partners
- Movimiento Sumar, Más Madrid, Izquierda Unida, Compromís and Chunta.
What people are saying
the coalition of the desperate
with a broad outlook and do what is necessary so that Spain is free and does not depend on Sánchez or any of his henchmen
We cannot put the sum at risk
what is bad is Sánchez