Economy February 9, 2026

Vox Doubles Its Presence in Aragon After Snap Vote, Leaving PP Dependent on Far-Right Support

Conservative gamble to call a December vote backfires as Vox rises to 14 seats and Socialists suffer historic losses in the region

By Caleb Monroe
Vox Doubles Its Presence in Aragon After Snap Vote, Leaving PP Dependent on Far-Right Support

Spain’s far-right Vox party doubled its seat total in the Aragon regional election, rising to 14 seats from seven with 18% of the vote. The governing People’s Party, which called a snap election in December after budget talks collapsed hoping to strengthen its position, remains the largest party with 26 seats but is now further from a majority and more reliant on Vox. The Socialist party lost five seats, marking its worst performance in the region.

Key Points

  • Vox increased its seats in the Aragon regional assembly from 7 to 14, capturing 18% of the vote.
  • The People’s Party remains the largest party with 26 seats in the 67-seat legislature but lost two seats and is further from an overall majority, increasing reliance on Vox.
  • The Socialist party lost five seats, matching its worst-ever regional result; national polling in mid-January put the Socialists at around 27%, the PP at 31% and Vox at 18%.

Spain’s far-right Vox party substantially increased its representation in Aragon’s regional assembly in Sunday’s vote, moving from seven seats to 14 and securing 18% of the vote. The result follows a snap election called by the governing conservative People’s Party in December after budget negotiations failed - a strategic move intended to consolidate the PP’s standing and reduce Vox’s influence that instead produced the opposite outcome.

The People’s Party remains the largest party in the 67-seat Aragon assembly with 26 seats, but it lost two seats compared with the 2023 regional election and now sits further away from an absolute majority. That shortfall leaves the PP more dependent on its partnership with Vox, the anti-immigration movement that increased its foothold in the region.

The Socialist party of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez saw its position weaken markedly in Aragon, losing five seats and recording its worst regional outcome on record. The article notes that Sanchez’s minority national government has been weakened by a series of corruption scandals over the past year, a factor cited in the reporting.

Analysts highlighted the significance of the Aragon outcome for national political trends. Eurointelligence wrote in a newsletter on Monday: "What happened in Aragon shows the shape of things to come." The analysts added: "There was indeed a momentum shift to the right. But Vox was the main, and sole, beneficiary." The result is described as consistent with rising support for Vox across Spain ahead of general elections that must be held by August 2027.

Polling data included in the reporting showed national support levels from a mid-January 40dB poll, with the Socialist party at around 27% of the electorate, the People’s Party at 31%, and Vox at 18%.

The report also notes that Vox doubled its seats in the Extremadura region in December, a parallel development to its gains in Aragon.

In sum, the December snap vote in Aragon achieved the opposite of the People’s Party’s aims: while it retained its position as the largest party in the regional assembly, it lost ground relative to a potential majority and enabled the far-right Vox to expand its influence.

Risks

  • Greater dependence of the regional government on Vox introduces political volatility - this could affect public policy decisions and governance in Aragon, with potential implications for sectors sensitive to regulatory shifts.
  • A weakened Socialist position, combined with a national minority government hampered by corruption scandals, creates political uncertainty at the national level that could affect investor sentiment and markets tied to Spanish sovereign risk.
  • Momentum toward the right ahead of the required general elections by August 2027 may lead to further gains for Vox, adding uncertainty for policy continuity across regions where coalition arrangements become necessary.

More from Economy

SCOTUS Ruling on IEEPA Tariffs Offers Relief but Leaves Major Questions for Markets and Treasury Feb 21, 2026 USMCA Goods Largely Exempted From New 10% Global Tariff, But Review Threat Looms Feb 20, 2026 U.S. Trade Office to Open Broad Section 301 Reviews Covering Major Partners Feb 20, 2026 Supreme Court Term Spotlight: High-Stakes Cases Shaping Law and Policy Feb 20, 2026 Trump Vows Fresh 10% Global Tariff After Supreme Court Limits His Trade Authority Feb 20, 2026