The dangerous following of the PP with Vox

BarcelonaThe PP will bring to a vote this Wednesday in Congress a text in which it asks to "prioritize access to aid, subsidies and public benefits, as well as access to protected housing and social rent, for people who prove a real, lasting and verifiable connection to the territory, inspired by the principle of national priority". In this way, the popular party affirms, they transfer to the lower house "the soul" of the agreement with Vox in Extremadura. Undoubtedly, this is a relevant move, as Alberto Núñez Feijóo decides to adopt a principle that has historically been linked to the far-right, and especially to French lepenism, despite the reservations expressed by prominent figures in his party such as Isabel Díaz Ayuso or Juanma Moreno Bonilla.

First of all, it should be clear that the generalized application of this principle is contrary to the Constitution, which in Article 14 states: "Spaniards are equal before the law, without any discrimination based on birth, race, sex, religion, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance." It is also contrary to the European Treaties, which stipulate that a European citizen must receive the same legal treatment throughout the EU. That is why the PP adopts the principle, but reduces its application to the concept of "roots" to avoid legal doubts, thus opening the door to requesting a certain period of registration to access certain benefits or public housing.

We are, however, on very slippery ground which represents a major discursive victory for the far-right, perhaps the most important since the PP-Vox pacts began, because this clearly goes against the spirit of the Constitution. For example, it is understandable that a town hall wants to impose a minimum period of registration to access public housing to prevent fraud and that people from another municipality end up occupying it. But if a very long period is established, then it is clear that the objective in a context of high immigration like the current one is no longer to fight against fraud, but to apply the principle of national priority indirectly. Restricting rights to newcomers, putting them in a situation of inequality with respect to natives, even if temporarily, is a dangerous path that leads us to a society with different types of citizens and, ultimately, to segregated societies. Because, let's not fool ourselves, what beats behind this slogan is the rejection of immigration and xenophobia.

The most worrying thing, however, is the ease with which a theoretically governing party with clear principles like the PP has bought into all the mental frameworks that Vox has imposed on it, such as criticism of feminism and environmentalism, and now the principle of national priority. We are reaching a point where it is difficult to know exactly what the PP's red lines are with respect to Vox, that is, in what they differ. And so far, this following, or rather mimicry by the PP, has benefited the far-right, not Núñez Feijóo's party.