Spain’s PP and Vox projected to win 198 seats in Nov. 29 vote, enough for a majority and a possible far-right return to national power

A poll published by El País projects that Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox could win 198 seats in the 350-member parliament in the November 29 snap election—22 more than the 176 needed for a majority. If they form a national government together, it would be the far right’s first return to power in Spain since the death of Francisco Franco in 1975.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the election after mass protests over housing and parliament’s rejection of two tenant-protection measures. He is betting that public anger over the housing crisis will help his Socialists overcome other challenges, including corruption scandals and immigration concerns. The defeated housing measures were later passed by the acting government.

Vox has attracted young supporters with its anti-immigration policies and appeal as a challenge to established parties, while distancing itself from the Franco dictatorship, analysts told Al Jazeera. They also described the PP-Vox bloc as more unified than its divided opponents, making it harder for Sánchez to overturn the polls.

The PP won the most votes in Spain’s 2023 general election but did not form a government with Vox. Sánchez instead secured office with support from, among others, the Catalan party Together for Catalonia. Since then, the PP and Vox have governed together in several regions.