José Antonio Fúster – “Vox are ready”

“We are Patriots because we don´t have the privilege of being Conservatives”

 

Whatever else you could have taken away from Vox´s EuropaViva25 rally, one thing was clear. Vox are in a buoyant mood, with polls showing they have climbed back from lows of 12-13% to tipping 20% in one poll, there is a sense of renewed optimism. In light of this, MetinMadrid was able to sit down with Vox National Spokesman José Antonio Fúster for an exclusive English interview. In Part 1 we review José on the parties prospects, deals with PP and immigration.

 

In english language news , Vox are called far-right and for many, there the analysis ends. But how would Vox describe themselves? “Patriots, that´s all” – José responds. “When we were younger we used to call ourselves conservatives but right now that is a very difficult position to maintain because there is nothing to conserve. So, the main thing now is rebuilding with patriotism.” And on EuropaViva25 itself, what was his impression of the event and the mood of the party?

 

“We have detected in the attitude of Vox supporters. Last year, they told us we have to hold on. This year the spirit was different. It´s a ´Let´s go for it!´. We can do it and sooner than we thought. Santiago Abascal has placed Vox in a position of privilege , that´s what we saw in Viva. Everytime we are stronger in our allies around the world. We are a party now that unites tens of millions of Europeans and are allies in America.” And does he feel an election is coming? “We don´t think an election is coming but we think we are prepared. We have declared loud and clear we have a problem with the bipartisan system. PP is a problem, the Socialist Party is a mafia.” 

 

“It wasn´t our mistake, it was their (PP´s) mistake. What a bunch of morons” -José Antonio Fúster

 

Still, with all this talk of rising up and being different, Vox have historically gone into co-alitions with one of those parties Vox now criticise as members of the two party system. Across Spain, Vox have previously propped up the Popular Party (PP) in Castilla y Leon , Andalucía and Valencia, often to damaging electoral consequences for Vox. Now, Vox have breached entirely with PP and had (at the time of the interview) made no overtures about this changing in the future. So, would José Antonio admit that joining with PP in the first place was a mistake?

 

“First of all, we have to distinguish what is PP and the voters of PP. We can connect with the voters. But PP, most of the time, they blindy follow the left.” But again, was it a mistake? “It was not a mistake from us, it was a mistake from them. PP thought we were like them, that for a plate of fish and chips and a bit of power we would betray our principles. They truly believed we would never leave the government even if they betrayed the agreement they signed, which included an all out fight against illegal immigration.”

 

One quote did make it seem that José was trying to keep the door slightly ajar when stating “If one day we are forced to sit down with them because of the situation, to negotioate a government, we have to remind them not to try to decieve Vox again. I hope that day never comes.”

 

José Antonio – National Spokesman of Vox

Immigration

 

However, with all this talk of principles there is often a clash between the supposed rhetoric of traditional right wings parties on cultural concerns and the economic liberalism espoused, no clearer is this issue seen than on immigration. Indeed, it was  Member of the European Parliament for the Vlaams Belang Tom Vandendriessche who made the point at EuropaViva25 that it was historically Belgium mining companies that were the biggest cheerleaders for immigration and with Spain´s agricultural industry a regular culprit, do Vox have the courage to stand up when it conflicts with short term business interests?

 

Hacinados y en condiciones insalubres

Así vivían 60 temporeros africanos que trabajaban en la vendimia en La Rioja

▶️https://t.co/mqhOpSSLt5 pic.twitter.com/lQu9Kmm7Ni

— Telediarios de TVE (@telediario_tve) October 17, 2024

 

 

“We have Hispanidad. We have alot of nations that feel like us , dream like us and they are mostly like us. So, if we need immigration we have a whole continent of people that are our brothers, it is very easy to integrate. They have 90% of the path to be integrated and they have to walk the other 10%. What we are going to fight is that incompatible immigration here in Spain.”

“Of course we have to tell the businesses to pay well, that´s the only reason to have a government”

 

This is when the red lights should be going off. It is impossible not to notice that José immediately shifted the question, which has an economic focus , to one about cultural values. It should also be looked on with suspicion when people talk about the immigrants ´we´ need. Who is the ´we´ in that scenario, the Spanish worker or the Spainish business owner who uses immigration to supress conditions? Again the contradiction is laid bare so José is pressed again:  Is José not in favour of a higher minimum salary floor for immigrants to enter Spain so sectors such as agriculture or tourism can not keep simply turning on the tap of cheap immigrants?

 

“We have to of course raise the wage of the people who do those jobs but the other is convince them to do those jobs because they are going to be well paid.” At this point, José turns his attention on Brussels for creating a situation where Spanish farmers have to compete with lower standards outside of Europe. For José the deal needs to be both reducing restrictions on green policies  and salaries “Be free to grow, be free to make a business , be free to make a living but pay more.”

 

 

All photos are the property of Vox and used with their permission. The full interview is available below.