MEP Jorge Buxadé Villalba, head of the Spanish VOX delegation in the European Parliament, is a lawyer by trade, an outspoken antiglobalist, and a staunch defender of national sovereignty, tradition, and the rule of law. Buxadé, previously a vice president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament, talked to Sergio Velasco about VOX’ decision to join the new Patriots for Europe parliamentary group, the party’s relationships with other conservatives, and the fight to save Spain from socialist PM Pedro Sánchez’ attempts to curtail freedoms.
What is your opinion of the situation in Spain? Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wants to pass a law of “democratic regeneration” in which a possible persecution of dissident media can be perceived. Do you think that von der Leyen will do something about it if it is carried out?
The law of democratic regeneration is a new step—not the last nor the definitive one—for the assault of power on all institutions, and above all, the control of freedoms—individual freedoms, whether freedom of speech, freedom of press, or political freedom.
I have no doubt that von der Leyen will do nothing. The last legislature, the von der Leyen Commission, was a sectarian commission that was an enemy of Spain in all its decisions. In this new legislature, the climate is going to be much weaker. The result of the European elections has weakened that totalitarian majority in the European Parliament. As it (von der Leyen) is weaker, it will be much more dependent on Sánchez. Therefore, she is not going to generate anything [to oppose Sánchez]—on the contrary, she will possibly applaud him and even pretend to do so at the European level.
We recently learned that the Partido Popular (PP) and the Socialist Party (PSOE) had shared control of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ)—after the PP said that the PSOE was carrying out a coup d’état with the amnesty. What do you think of this?
You cannot say one thing in the morning, take the Spaniards to demonstrations against the amnesty law—and the next day agree with them on the distribution of judges. Of course, this is most contrary to the idea of the rule of law. Respect for the independence of the judiciary is one of the bases of the modern political systems we have in Europe. However, the Popular Party and the Socialist Party do nothing other than what they have done for the last 40 years.
There is a big difference, and that is that, this time, they have done it with a photo in Brussels and with a foreign mediator. This has been a qualitative leap because the renewal of the Council, of course, is contrary to the independence of the judiciary. In this, they have not changed what they have been doing for years, but by doing it in Brussels, they recognize the submission of the Popular Party and the Socialist Party to what is imposed by von der Leyen or by anyone who directs the European Commission, continuing 40 years of damage to the sovereignty of Spain and damage to judicial independence.
In recent weeks, the Popular Party has talked about accepting unaccompanied minors in the regions where they governed, but then they have picked up a VOX proposal from 2019 to use the Navy to block the boats. The last thing they have said is that they will accept those unaccompanied minors and other illegal immigrants. What do you think of all this? Also, in recent hours, Abascal said that VOX would break its regional governments with the PP if they accepted the illegal migrants—will that finally happen?
Well, it is the swindler right wing, it is the Partido Popular. It is a great swindle to the Spaniards, fundamentally to its voters, of course, but in general to all Spaniards. You cannot copy VOX proposals such as the Navy patrolling the ocean to prevent the arrival of mafia boats, but then be in favor of regularizing 500,000 illegal immigrants or spreading illegal immigrants throughout Spain.
Of course, for us, that is an insurmountable line. In the regional governments with the PP, we have agreed, as we could not do otherwise, that the regional governments were going to fight against illegal immigration with the competencies they have in their hands. If the PP decides to continue being an accomplice to the business of the mafias on the issue of the distribution of illegal immigrants throughout the national territory, that PP decides to be in the hands of the Socialist Party.
Just now, news has arrived that the Socialist Party is offering the PP that the regional governments break with VOX and surrender to the PSOE. It is the PP that wants to break them and wants to pact with the Socialist Party, but it has to swindle the Spaniards and, therefore, its voters.
Why did VOX leave the ECR and join the new Patriots for Europe group?
Fundamentally because Patriots for Europe responds to two political needs—two political approaches—of VOX. First, the unity of the patriotic parties in Europe, bringing delegations from various groups of the European Parliament in the united defense of national sovereignty, of traditions, of different cultures. And second, as Santiago Abascal said yesterday, because in this group, we fight against illegal immigration, confront the European Green Pact and the 2030 Agenda.This is what we said in the campaign, this is what we have proposed to the Spaniards. In short, it is consistent with the Madrid Summit, consistent with the “VIVA” of the year 2021, 2022, and 2024 because it led us to be part of this group.
There was talk that within the ECR there were two sections, one that outright rejected a vote in favor of von der Leyen and another that advocated an abstention or even a positive vote. Was that decisive?
Well, I think it is not definitive. In any case, we are clear that we will not vote for von der Leyen. In the Patriots for Europe group there is unanimity in this position, but it is not the most important thing.
Despite VOX’ departure from the ECR, is there still a cordial relationship with Fratelli d’Italia?
The media have said a lot of things about our relationship with Fratelli, but they have no interest in the truth. The relationship that we have with Fratelli, and with Giorgia Meloni, is a relationship that is above any political group. A personal relationship, a relationship of friendship, a relationship of trust and ideological affinity. She has been, is, and will continue to be our ally in Italy.
This is in no way detrimental to our relationship. We have been in the ECR and we invited both Orbán, who was a non-inscrit, and André Ventura, who was in Identity and Democracy (ID) to the “VIVA”. So, even if we are in Patriots for Europe, we will continue to collaborate with Fratelli, with Law and Justice (PiS), and with all the ECR delegations with which we have an ideological affinity.
What can we expect from the new Orbán-led group, Patriots for Europe, and what does it bring to the table?
Our vision of a strong Europe, of a necessary reform of the European institutions, our unwavering defense of the sovereignty of the nation, the defense of borders and security. These are the problems that most concern Europe—especially Western Europe. And then to regain our economic status, that is, competitiveness in our companies; that our farmers and ranchers can compete with foreign production, to combat climate fanaticism and globalist agenda. All this is what unites us in a nutshell.
It is another way of doing politics, a politics without thinking about the posts, or thinking about the parties or the dinners you are invited to if you accept certain policies. To defend the interests of the people who voted for us and even those who did not vote for us. For example, Viktor Orbán, when he makes policies, thinks of all Hungarians—and not only of those who voted for him. When we make policies here in Brussels, we think of the general interest of Spain and not only of the voters of VOX.
Speaking of Orbán’s policies, how do you view Orbán? Do you think he is the person who best unites conservatism in Europe?
I have to mention that hopefully, the next leader to unite a European group and be the example of conservatism in Europe will be Santiago Abascal. Returning to the question, Viktor Orbán is already part of the political history of Europe, he is the dean of the college of European presidents and prime ministers.
Orbán is a political reference in Europe and the government of Fidesz in Hungary is an example and a demonstration of what a patriotic and conservative government has to be. Family policies, birth rate policies, policies to increase competitiveness, policies for job creation, and fundamentally the defense of sovereignty that begins at the borders.
Finally, what is your analysis of what happened in the UK and French elections?
They are two different elections and people try to put everything as if they were the same thing. The British Conservative Party has collapsed. When a party with the history, with the tradition of the Conservative Party, makes contradictory decisions that cause confusion to its voters—changes of prime minister, tax increases, tax cuts, support for restrictive policies on illegal immigration, support for policies to promote mass immigration—well, with all this, you cannot expect much. The British electorate has sanctioned the lack of political coherence of the Tories, so it has been more to the detriment of the Conservatives than to the detriment of Labour.
France is different. We are facing the reaction of globalism to the possible victory of the Rassemblement National, a party that has a program that seeks to solve the problems of its time. The fight against illegal immigration, radical Islamism, demographic problems, the decomposition of French society, violence in the streets, and the progressive loss of France’s economic capacity and influence.
All this against an Islamist antisemitic Left, a Left that makes the great alliance with globalism. In fact, France is the obvious example of what I have denounced in my book Sovereignty, the great alliance between the far left and the elites, with the powerful against the people.
France right now is a society in which there is a covert civil confrontation, but it has the seed of a better future, of a future in which there will be a president of the republic, like Le Pen, who will raise France and of course contribute to the uprising of Europe.
