Mañueco Begins New Term
Mañueco Begins Third Term as President After PP and Vox Renew Alliance Today
Alfonso Fernández Mañueco took the oath of office at noon on June 11, 2026, beginning his third consecutive term as President of Castilla y León. The ceremony ended nearly three months of political deadlock that followed the March 15 regional elections, according to RTVE.
The new government rests on a 47-seat majority — 33 from PP and 14 from Vox — in an 82-seat chamber where 42 votes are needed to govern. Mañueco pledged to make "a community that is better than it was four years ago keep improving," El Periódico reported.
PP and Vox Sign a 324-Measure Coalition Pact
The two parties formally signed their coalition agreement on June 3, 2026 in Valladolid. The document contains 324 specific measures. It marked the return of Vox to the regional executive after a two-year break, according to Cadena SER.
The cabinet is split into 10 ministries. PP holds 7, including Health, Education, and Finance. Vox takes 3 portfolios — Agriculture, Culture, and Family — plus the First Vice Presidency, led by Carlos Pollán, The Objective reported.
A 'Second Marriage' After the 2024 Collapse
In 2022, Castilla y León became the first Spanish region to bring Vox into a coalition government. That partnership broke apart in July 2024. Vox national leader Santiago Abascal pulled out of all regional governments over a dispute about the care of unaccompanied migrant minors, according to Cadena SER.
Two years of minority rule followed. The 2026 election results left PP nine seats short of a majority, forcing a rapprochement. Mañueco described the new term as an era of "generosity to negotiate without betraying ideas," COPE reported.
'Priority National' Clause Draws the Sharpest Criticism
The most contested part of the pact requires applicants for social housing and certain public aid to prove "real, verifiable, and effective roots" in the region. Vox frames this as "Spaniards first." Mañueco calls it "legal and ordered immigration," El Diario reported.
Legal experts warn the clause could face a challenge in Spain's Constitutional Court if it discriminates against legal residents based on national origin, according to El Diario. Vox's Carlos Pollán told supporters that those favoring "illegal immigration" should "take their dirty hands off our land," Cadena SER reported.
Opposition Calls the Deal a Far-Right Surrender
PSOE opposition leader Carlos Martínez Mínguez, whose party holds 30 seats, called the pact "a surrender of democratic values to the far-right," El País reported. His bloc cast all 35 opposition votes against Mañueco's investiture on June 9.
Former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy attended the inauguration alongside regional presidents María Guardiola and Jorge Azcón, signaling mainstream PP backing for the coalition model, according to RTVE. The new government's official gazette decree naming the full cabinet is expected within 48 hours.
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