If one wants to get a glimpse into the future of Europe, they need only look at recent events in Spain leading up to the general election on July 23rd. The far-right Vox party has resorted to shocking tactics in an attempt to inflame cultural division and secure a win. Their most recent move involved a billboard on a major street in Madrid, displaying symbols of feminism, migration, and LGBTQ+ rights being aggressively thrown into a bin. This is just the latest example of the party’s strategy to position themselves as defenders of the traditional nation state.
Vox’s rhetoric reached new heights during a televised election debate when its leader, Santiago Abascal, falsely claimed that nearly 70% of gang rapes in Spain were committed by foreigners. This tactic is not unique to Vox. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, Nigel Farage used a similar approach with his “breaking point” poster, featuring an image of migrants heading towards Britain. This same photograph was also prominently displayed on election billboards in Hungary by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán under the headline “Stop.” Despite Hungary having the lowest level of foreign-born citizens in Europe, Orbán’s campaign successfully made the issue of “invaders” a central focus.
Vox’s nationalism extends beyond opposition to external migration. The party explicitly targets the LGBTQ+ community and feminism, viewing these movements as threats to the nation state. When Vox participates in coalitions at the local level, they actively shut down gender equality initiatives. They have forced changes in the definition of domestic violence, minimizing its significance to intragroup issues. Recognition of LGBTQ+ rights is being erased in some regions where Vox has influence. Furthermore, the party’s ultra-nationalist agenda seeks to suppress movements for regional autonomy by banning separatist parties in Catalonia and the Basque Country.
It is important to recognize that the far-right’s focus on culture wars serves as a distraction from their neoliberal economic policies, which prioritize privatization, expansion of private healthcare, and tax cuts for the wealthy. Spain, under the leadership of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is now on the front lines of defending progressive values and fighting against right-wing attempts to overshadow his economic agenda, which includes creating better jobs and addressing poverty.
While Vox may not win the election outright, it has the potential to dominate the next government, as the conservative Popular Party is aligning with Vox in various regional and local governments. This shift in power would have far-reaching consequences, breaking a nearly 50-year-old political taboo against neofascist parties in positions of power. Vox’s rise to prominence could embolden far-right parties across Europe, many of which have been gaining traction in recent years. The dissatisfaction with globalization and the failures of neoliberalism create fertile ground for these culture warriors to exploit and reverse progress in human rights and international cooperation.
To combat this rising xenophobic nationalism, a positive and progressive social and economic policy agenda must be put forward. Leaders like Sánchez are championing the cause of rising living standards and should continue to do so with conviction. It is crucial to remember that defeating these divisive ideologies requires a moral effort and a commitment to equality and justice. As Pedro Sánchez aptly stated, the alternative has a name that doesn’t need to be spelled out.
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