Spain’s center-right People’s Party (PP) is seeking common ground with the far-right Vox party, particularly as the future of PP-led governments in several autonomous communities hangs in the balance. A key point of convergence has emerged: a ban on wearing the burka and niqab in public spaces.
PP leaders, including Alberto Núñez Feijóo, voiced their support for the ban over the weekend, following Vox’s introduction of a legislative proposal in Congress that would enact the measure through revisions to existing laws, including the Penal Code. The proposal could gain traction if it also receives backing from Junts, a Catalan party that has recently expressed similar views. However, it faces strong opposition from the ruling coalition, making its passage into law unlikely.
The proposed ban has sparked debate across the political spectrum. While there is broad agreement on the right that the full-face coverings are problematic, the issue has historically divided the left. Some argue the garments are degrading to women, while others contend that debating the issue fuels xenophobia. France grappled with similar divisions 15 years ago, when its National Assembly agreed to prohibit the burka in public spaces, with many Socialist and Communist lawmakers abstaining from the vote.
The current Spanish government, a coalition of the PSOE and Sumar parties, anticipates rejecting the proposal. Socialist sources indicate the measure could violate two articles of the Constitution: Article 14, which prohibits discrimination based on sex and religion, and Article 16, which guarantees religious freedom. While Vox’s proposal claims This proves not a religious issue, it references “Islamic garments,” according to PSOE officials. They also point to previous rulings by the Supreme Court that overturned local regulations attempting to ban the burka in municipal facilities.
Vox’s proposal also cites security concerns as justification for prohibiting face coverings in public, an argument that Socialists dismiss, suggesting it would also necessitate banning items like ski masks. “This is just another attempt by Vox to promote its hateful rhetoric,” PSOE sources concluded.
Although the use of burkas and niqabs is rare in Spain, Vox’s proposal expresses concern over the “massive circulation of people with their faces covered.” Violators could face fines starting at 600 euros, escalating to 30,000 euros for repeat offenses. The initiative also proposes amending the Penal Code to impose prison sentences of up to three years on anyone who forces another person to wear these garments “through violence, intimidation, or any form of coercion.” it seeks to modify the law on the rights of foreign citizens to facilitate their expulsion if they commit serious offenses.
The proposal has a good chance of being accepted if Junts offers its support. The party, led by Carles Puigdemont, has not revealed its voting intentions, but its past actions suggest it might be inclined to back the measure. In May, Junts voted against a proposal by Aliança Catalana, a far-right party gaining traction among its electorate, to ban even the simple veil that covers only the head, and neck. However, it simultaneously expressed openness to taking measures against the burka.
Other left-wing parties, such as ERC and EH Bildu, have yet to announce their positions, but sources indicate they are unlikely to vote in favor. Despite potential nuanced views within both groups, the initiative’s origin with the far-right is expected to sway their decision. The PNV party is also considering its stance, with sources noting the issue is debated across Europe while reiterating their disagreement with Vox’s “xenophobic tendencies.”
Even if the proposal is considered, its enactment into law before the end of the legislative term appears improbable. The Congress’s governing board would be responsible for drafting the legislation, and the ruling coalition holds a majority on that board. They also have the option of indefinitely delaying the process by extending the deadline for submitting amendments.
The debate is likely to provide ammunition for the right to question the left’s commitment to women’s rights, a key tenet of progressive politics. Carmen Fúnez, the PP’s vice-secretary, alluded to this on Monday, sarcastically questioning “the feminism that defends the burka or the niqab.”
This debate could help the PP strengthen ties with Vox, as it seeks their support to form governments in Extremadura, Aragón, and likely Castilla y León after the regional elections on March 15. This comes as part of Feijóo’s fresh strategy, abandoning any reluctance to partner with the far-right. “The PP and Vox must understand each other and be consistent with the results of the polls,” he stated Sunday in El Mundo. A rapprochement on energy and environmental policies, however, appears more challenging, given Vox’s denial of climate change and attacks on what it calls “eco-fanaticism.”
The far-right party has made its opposition to the Green Pact signed in Europe by conservatives and socialists a key demand for its support. In the Valencian Community, Vox secured an agreement with the PP to adopt much of its discourse on the matter in exchange for support for the regional budget. Vox leaders have been emphasizing these issues when questioned about their demands for supporting the PP in Extremadura and Aragón.
Despite this, the PP rejected Vox’s more radical proposals on Monday in Congress. Vox presented a non-binding proposal to the Committee on Ecological Transition that included calls for repealing the climate change law and the European Green Pact, revising emission limits, and even restoring coal-fired power plants. “You are obsessed with green energy,” Vox lawmaker Patricia Rueda told the other groups. PP representative Juan Diego Requena avoided direct conflict with Vox but stated, “We are Europeanists and respect our agreements in Europe.” The PP then joined the left-wing parties—PSOE, Sumar, and EH Bildu—to vote against the proposal.
