Podcast Summary: Más de uno

Episode: Marta García Aller: "El ascenso de Vox parecía imparable, ya no"

Host: Carlos Alsina
Guest Commentator: Marta García Aller
Date: March 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This morning’s commentary, delivered by Marta García Aller alongside Carlos Alsina, dives into the fallout from the recent regional elections in Castilla y León. The central theme revolves around the halt in the apparently unstoppable rise of the far-right party Vox, the reassertion of the traditional PP-PSOE bipartisanship, and the implications for Spain’s broader political right.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Results in Castilla y León: A Return to Bipartisanship

• The two main parties, PP (Partido Popular) and PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Español), both increased their representation by two seats.
• Smaller parties — Podemos, Izquierda Unida, and Ciudadanos — essentially disappeared from the regional map.

2. Vox’s Underperformance

• Vox failed to meet inflated expectations set by polls, which projected up to 17 seats; they only managed a maximum of 14.

• The party also fell short of crossing the symbolic 20% vote threshold considered a benchmark for success.

  "Vox se queda muy lejos de sus expectativas. Muy lejos de los 17 escaños que le daban. Las encuestas no pasan de 14. Lejos por tanto del listón del 20% que consideraban un éxito."
  — Marta García Aller [00:13]

3. Context and Irony: The Right’s “Plebiscite”

• Castilla y León was the first region to welcome Vox into institutions four years prior, and now it’s the first to set a clear ceiling for their success.

• Although the right-wing (PP + Vox) “swept” as a bloc, it is PP’s Alfonso Fernández Mañueco who emerges as the true winner, not Vox.

  "Si era un plebiscito para medir fuerzas en la derecha, que como bloque vuelve a arrasar... gana Mañueco."
  — Marta García Aller [00:36]

• Marta points out the irony: Despite repeated insults from Vox’s leader Abascal toward Mañueco (accusing him of "poca inteligencia política y una pobreza vergonzosa de debate"), it is Mañueco who increased his lead.

  "Si el candidato que según Abascal es poco inteligente y de debate vergonzosamente pobre aumenta la ventaja que tenía sobre Vox, ¿Cómo será la alternativa?"
  — Marta García Aller [00:48]

4. Factors Behind Vox's Plateau

• Potential reasons for Vox’s stagnation include:

  • Leadership purges by Abascal.
  • Their unconditional support for Trump and his Gulf War, which is linked to rising diesel prices.
  • Immigration is not a pressing issue in Castilla y León (only 2% see it as a concern).
  • The public penalizing Vox for obstructing right-of-center government formations.

  "Tal vez le estén pasando factura a las purgas de Abascal o el apoyo incondicional a Trump... O puede que sea porque en la comunidad autónoma más grande y despoblada de España la inmigración solo preocupa al 2% de la gente..."
  — Marta García Aller [01:19]

5. Negotiation Dynamics in the Right

• Mañueco (PP) refused to negotiate with the Socialists, leaving Vox potentially in an influential negotiating spot.
• However, party headquarters (Génova, under Feijóo) is now centralizing negotiations, possibly reducing Vox's leverage.

6. Larger Trend: Vox’s Growth Stalls

• In three consecutive elections—Extremadura, Aragón, and now Castilla y León—Vox’s momentum has clearly slowed, with PP outpacing them.

  "Vox por primera vez crece menos que el PP, muy lejos de las expectativas que había creado."
  — Marta García Aller [01:37]

Memorable Quotes & Moral

• Key Punchline:

  "El ascenso de Vox parecía imparable, ya no."
  — Marta García Aller [01:36]

• Moraleja (Lesson):

  "El PP se da por satisfecho. Vox sí que tenía techo."
  — Marta García Aller [01:43]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:03] – Election results breakdown by Marta García Aller
• [00:13] – Vox’s underperformance vs. expectations
• [00:36] – Right’s internal competition and Mañueco’s win
• [00:48] – Reflection on Abascal’s criticisms of Mañueco
• [01:19] – Possible reasons behind Vox’s stagnation
• [01:37] – Summary of Vox’s recent electoral trends
• [01:43] – Moraleja: PP satisfied, Vox has hit its ceiling

Tone and Style

Marta García Aller brings an analytic yet witty tone, expertly blending hard electoral facts with biting observations and irony. Her commentary remains accessible and direct, punctuated by memorable summations and swift, incisive logic.

Summary:
If the recent Castilla y León election was a test of the Spanish right, the results show a revitalized bipartisanship and a clear ceiling for Vox's once-unstoppable rise. The Partido Popular solidifies its position, while Vox must now contend with the limits of its appeal and shifting internal and external dynamics.