Santiago Abascal, the leader of Vox, is due to visit Tarragona and Barcelona on Friday 18 September after travelling to Lleida on Thursday, according to Diari ARA. For Catalan voters, the visits signal that Vox is treating Catalonia as an early focus of its campaign activity before Spain's next general election.
Abascal had not visited Catalonia since the 2024 Catalan elections, ARA reported. The newspaper said Vox believes the territory offers significant scope for the party to increase its support.
Vox targets support beyond its established base
Vox sources told ARA that Catalonia matters to the party because it sees potential to gain support in areas that have traditionally voted for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, known by its Spanish initials PSOE.
"Abascal is beginning the pre-campaign in Catalonia because of its importance and, above all, because it is one of the places where the party can grow the most, alongside Ceuta, Murcia and Valencia," Vox sources told ARA.
The same sources also pointed to what they described as dual voting with Aliança Catalana, meaning some voters may choose Aliança Catalana in Catalan elections and Vox in Spanish general elections.
Further Catalonia visit planned
ARA reported that Girona is also reserved for a later stop in Abascal's Catalonia pre-campaign. The source did not give dates, times or venues for Friday's Tarragona and Barcelona visits.
Reported by en.ara.cat, ara.cat, Diari ARA.
