For many years it was widely assumed that immigrants in Spain tended to support parties on the political left. Yet recent electoral analyses and social studies suggest a more complex reality: a growing number of legally established migrants in Spain are increasingly leaning towards conservative political parties, particularly the Partido Popular and, to a lesser extent, Vox.
Spain Press Editorial Team
A growing electorate
Spain today has millions of foreign residents and an increasing number of immigrants who have acquired Spanish citizenship, allowing them to participate in national elections.
Many come from Latin America, followed by migrants from North Africa, Eastern Europe and other regions. Over time, a large number of these migrants have become fully integrated into Spanish society: they work, buy homes, start businesses and take part in the country’s social and civic life.
This process of integration is also shaping their political preferences.
From integration to stability
Political analysts point out that many legal migrants tend to place particular value on economic stability, legal certainty, employment opportunities and the ability to build a business or a secure life – issues often associated with centre-right political parties.
In particular, migrants from countries that have experienced severe economic crises or highly polarised political systems – such as Venezuela, Argentina or Cuba – often show greater sympathy for political messages emphasising market economics, institutional stability and the protection of private property.
In this context, the Partido Popular has emerged as a natural political choice for many immigrant voters, while Vox has also managed to attract a portion of this electorate.
The example of a small village in Castile and León
A striking example of this trend can be found in Fuente el Olmo de Fuentidueña, a small municipality in the province of Segovia, in the region of Castile and León.
The village has been described by some media outlets as “the little Bucharest of Castile and León”, as the majority of its residents are of Romanian origin. Out of 395 registered inhabitants, 298 were born in Romania, representing more than 75 per cent of the population.
The arrival of foreign workers has completely transformed the village’s demographic structure. Just two decades ago the town was almost deserted, with barely a hundred residents, many of them elderly.
Many of the newcomers initially arrived as agricultural workers, particularly linked to the agribusiness company Planasa, which specialises in the cultivation of berries in the area. Over time they settled permanently, bought homes, started families and helped revive an area often described as part of Spain’s “empty Spain”.
However, what has attracted particular attention from political observers is the local voting pattern. In recent general elections conservative parties dominated the vote: the Partido Popular received more than 50 per cent of the ballots, while Vox secured around 24 per cent.
A critical stance on illegal migration
One aspect that has surprised some observers is that a number of these legal migrants also express critical views regarding irregular migration.
Many point out that their own path to Spain involved legal procedures – work permits, residence authorisations and often years of bureaucratic processes, as well as a long period of adaptation and integration.
For that reason, some find it difficult to understand when irregular migrants are later granted legal status through faster or simplified regularisation processes, which they perceive as unequal compared with the efforts they themselves had to make.
There are also concerns about the social impact of uncontrolled migration flows. Some migrants fear that new arrivals could lead to immigrants in general being associated with issues such as crime, something that could negatively affect the integration of those already established.
Another factor is economic. Many migrants work in similar sectors, including agriculture, construction, hospitality and services. As a result, a significant increase in new arrivals could lead to direct competition for the same jobs.
A diverse electorate
At the same time, experts stress that the voting behaviour of migrants in Spain is far from uniform. Many foreign-born citizens continue to support progressive parties, particularly younger voters or groups more closely linked to social policies.
What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that as migrants become more integrated and their demographic weight grows, their political preferences are also becoming more diverse.
An increasingly relevant factor in Spanish politics
Each year, more immigrants acquire Spanish citizenship and become part of the electorate.
As a result, voters with a migrant background could play an increasingly important role in Spain’s political landscape, prompting political parties to pay greater attention to this electorate.
One thing is certain: migrants voting in Spain today increasingly reflect the same political diversity found across Spanish society as a whole.
