Juanma Moreno faces criticism over PP‑Vox pact amid Blas Infante homage

On July 5, the Parliament of Andalusia held its traditional tribute to Blas Infante, the region’s "Father of the Patria Andaluza," marking the 141st anniversary of his birth. The ceremony coincided with the first session of control for newly sworn‑in regional president Juan Manuel Moreno (PP), who used the occasion to defend the recently signed coalition agreement with Vox.

Opposition parties – including the PSOE, Adelante Andalucía, Por Andalucía, Izquierda Unida and local groups such as Con Málaga and Con Ronda – condemned the pact, accusing the PP of giving the far‑right “the door to those who killed Blas Infante” and warning it would roll back fundamental rights. Vox did not attend the homage, a pattern noted by several reports.

Former prime minister Mariano Rajoy praised Moreno as a “sensible” politician, while the national PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo expressed pride in the agreement yet did not attend the inauguration, citing scheduling conflicts. Internal PP discussions about the new cabinet were noted, including the appointment of Vox’s Ana Mestre as vice‑president of the Andalusian Parliament.

Moreno’s comments that Infante died because he was “too human” were criticised for downplaying the Francoist execution, with other commentators stressing the need to preserve the historical memory law. The event highlighted the growing tension between the governing coalition and parties opposed to the right‑wing agenda in Andalusia.