Vox Calls for Deportation of Irregular Migrants and Priority for Spaniards in Social Benefits

Spain's Vox party has presented its main electoral proposals in La Seu d'Urgell ahead of the November 29 general election, placing immigration controls, priority access to social benefits for Spanish citizens and the reduction of bureaucracy at the centre of its political programme.

Rafael Villafranca, a member of the Catalan Parliament and Vox's leading candidate for Lleida, attended an information stand in the capital of Alt Urgell over the weekend, accompanied by party members and supporters.

During the event, Villafranca strongly criticised the Spanish Government, describing it as "corrupt" and arguing that the country is approaching the election under exceptional circumstances.

"The country has gone off the rails," the candidate said, accusing the Government of clinging to power and disregarding democratic rules.

Vox Proposes 'Remigration' and National Priority for Social Benefits

One of the central proposals presented by Villafranca is what Vox calls "national priority", a policy aimed at giving Spanish citizens preferential access to certain welfare benefits and public resources.

The candidate argued that many families in Catalonia and elsewhere in Spain have experienced declining purchasing power and that public administrations should therefore prioritise Spanish nationals when distributing social assistance.

Villafranca said Spain has traditionally been a welcoming country, which he linked to its Christian heritage, but warned that "all of Africa cannot fit into Europe."

On immigration, the Vox representative rejected recent regularisation measures and called for "remigration" policies, a term used by the party to describe the return of people who entered Spain illegally.

He also advocated extending such policies to foreign nationals who, according to his description, rely on public benefits without contributing through taxes or social security payments and who fail to integrate into Spanish society.

These proposals reflect Vox's political position, and any implementation would have to comply with applicable legislation and individual legal protections.

Vox Calls for Less Bureaucracy and Closure of Public Agencies

Another key element of the party's programme is administrative deregulation, which Vox argues would reduce paperwork and simplify procedures for individuals and businesses.

Villafranca called for "closing a large number of agencies" that he considers "completely unnecessary", although he did not identify the specific institutions he would seek to eliminate.

According to the candidate, reducing administrative structures would make public services more efficient and encourage economic activity.

He also claimed that Spain's public services are experiencing serious pressure, particularly in the justice system, healthcare and education.

Better Roads and Internet Access for the Pyrenees

Turning to regional issues, Villafranca emphasised the need to improve roads, rural transport infrastructure and internet connectivity across the Pyrenees.

The candidate, who is involved with the Institut per al Desenvolupament i la Promoció de l'Alt Pirineu i Aran (IDAPA), argued that inadequate transport links and public services contribute to rural depopulation.

He warned that villages in the Pyrenees must not be left to decline and called for investment to support mobility, economic opportunities and permanent settlement in rural communities.

Villafranca also advocated strengthening essential public services in sparsely populated areas while reducing bureaucracy and administrative structures he regards as unnecessary.

Criticism of EU Agricultural Policy and Imported Products

The Vox candidate also addressed the challenges facing farmers, arguing that European agricultural policies and competition from non-EU imports are undermining the profitability of local producers.

Villafranca criticised the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and denounced what he described as unfair competition affecting European agriculture.

He argued that EU farmers must comply with strict health, labour and tax requirements that, in his view, are not always applied equally to imported agricultural products.

According to Villafranca, this imbalance reduces farmers' profitability and makes it harder for younger generations to take over family farms.

"Without profitability, there is no generational replacement," the Vox representative warned.

He therefore called for measures to prevent agricultural products imported from outside the European Union from being sold at prices below those of locally produced goods.

Through these proposals, Vox is seeking to strengthen its electoral presence in Lleida and the Pyrenees, focusing on immigration, public administration reform, rural infrastructure and support for the agricultural sector ahead of the November 29 election.