Following Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president, europeanconservative.com chats with Jorge Buxadé, head of VOX’s delegation in the European Parliament (EP), shortly after his party hosted the first Patriots for Europe (PfE) event in Spain’s capital under the slogan “Make Europe Great Again.”
The Spanish party, led by Santiago Abascal, has been heavily criticized nationally and across Europe for bringing together the leaders of what establishment media consider the ‘far right’ at this event. For others, however, the PfE summit was a show of political muscle by the third-largest group in the EP. With 86 MEPs, the group is a stark reminder of the rising conservative wave, making the hegemonic powers feel uneasy.
VOX is polling around 15% in Spain, which, combined with Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s Popular Party (PP) at 34.8%, would give both parties a clear absolute majority in government if elections were held today. The question is in which direction the Overton window will shift. In other words, will VOX adopt the PP’s positions, or will the PP make concessions to VOX?
Let’s start with the Patriots for Europe event in Madrid. How does your party evaluate it?
The outcome is a resounding success. First, we managed to organize an impeccable event from a logistical point of view, with no incidents, except for an attempted provocation by a radical activist. The turnout was extraordinary, and the most significant aspect was the presence of the key leaders of the European patriotic movement.
Herbert Kickl was in Vienna negotiating a government for Austria, but all the key figures of the patriotic movement were in Madrid. We had figures such as Marine Le Pen, Matteo Salvini, Javier Milei, and María Corina Machado, which confirms the magnitude and international significance of the event.
Moreover, the content was overwhelming: clear, forceful speeches focused on what is essential to recover the Europe we want—a Europe of freedom, Christian values, prosperity, and security.
The media, as expected, have tried to distort reality with lies and manipulations, but the important thing is that they are talking about us. It is better to be at the center of the debate—even if it is through their disinformation—than to be ignored. Fortunately, the media’s falsehoods have less and less impact because people access the truth directly through social networks.
You have been criticized on the grounds that this coalition has conflicting interests. Do you think this generates friction within the Patriots?
Not at all. There is no internal friction in Patriots because we are very clear about what we agree on, what unites us, and what we must work together on.
VOX does not share 100% of its vision with parties from France, Hungary, or Poland, no matter how aligned we may be on general principles. But this is not the time to mark differences; it is time to build a real alternative to globalism and the bureaucracy of Brussels.
It has also been said that VOX organized an event with Lega, a party that some wrongly labeled as separatist. That is absurd. Just listen to Salvini: he defended the sovereignty of the national state against the bureaucratic dictatorship of the EU. He concluded his speech with a forceful “Long live Italy, long live Spain, and long live the Europe of nations!”
The same applies to other criticisms directed at Le Pen or Orbán, especially regarding their stance on Russia. But the reality is that it was the European socialists and the EPP who handed over control of energy and the economy to Putin—not the patriots.
The big question is: what have the MEPs from the Popular Party and the Socialist Party done so far in the European Parliament? While they looked the other way, their formations supported Catalan separatism within the major European blocs.
From day one, we have defended that Spain is a great nation and must remain united. Now, many are scandalized by Sánchez and label him an autocrat, but what are the MEPs from the PP and PSOE doing? They make deals in Brussels with socialists, liberals, and greens to always approve the same directives and regulations.
This week, Viktor Orbán met with Alice Weidel, the candidate from Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany. Polls place her in second position, and some sectors within the CDU are nervous about the possibility of her coming to power.
She probably won’t get to govern due to the establishment parties’ pacts. Still, Patriots can serve as a bridge between different forces, which is key to consolidating a real opposition to the hegemony of the EPP, socialists, and liberals.
That’s right. Alice Weidel’s visit to Budapest and her reception by Orbán with presidential honors marks a turning point.
First, it confirms that the Patriots are the unifying link between the forces that defend state sovereignty against globalism. Second, it establishes a clear political line that we all agree on. Both Santiago Abascal and Viktor Orbán made it clear at the summit: We are not content with the current 86 MEPs; we aspire to be the largest group in the chamber and will work to expand our influence or consolidate strategic alliances.
Our objective is to transform Europe. We don’t want to remain in opposition; we want to govern and do good for our fellow citizens.
Five years have passed since the European elections that brought you into Parliament. Much has changed since then, even more so now that Trump is back in the White House. What are the Patriots’ objectives for this legislature, von der Leyen’s second term?
Our first objective has already been achieved: Patriots are the largest right-wing group in Europe and the one with the most responsibility for setting the political agenda.
The victory of Trump, and the wins of Milei in Argentina and Meloni in Italy confirm that the tide has turned: citizens are rejecting progressive policies and woke ideology. Over the next five years, we will see a very different political landscape.
Our immediate priority is to halt the Green Deal and the Migration and Asylum Pact, which threaten the prosperity and security of Europe. We may not be able to completely repeal them right away, but we intend to slow their progress until we can fully reverse them in the next legislature.
Another key issue is the reform of the European treaties. Brussels has stopped mentioning it because they know that addressing this issue would mean breaking with the European People’s Party. However, our influence is growing, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore us.
Von der Leyen insists on decarbonization and uses Trump as an excuse. Is changing course during this legislature possible, or are we facing an immovable status quo?
Not only is it possible, but it is imperative, and we will achieve it.
The European Commission, with its climate fanaticism, shows no intention of rectifying its course, but reality will soon catch up with it. They depend on large economic conglomerates to support them, but popular pressure and the Patriots’ growth will change the rules of the game.
Our analysis is precise: We must continue to increase our support and force these bureaucrats to make corrections. We will see decisive changes in five years and lay the foundations for a fundamental transformation in the next legislature.
