Thread by @pmdfoster

Valencia’s incredible opera house where Spain’s UKIP equivalent Vox is about to have an election rally....

Long queues to get in. Lots of Spanish flags...looks like a full house.

It’s a big crowd. Vox organisers point to these sell-out rallies as evident they will over-perform on Sunday in #28Abril general election. /3

The issue is that Vox May just be cannabalising Right vote from Popular Party(PP) and Ciudadanos.

So a surprise Vox showing may still not bring a Right Government in Madrid. /4

But Vox rise is still notable. They polled 0.2% in 2016, now at 10% + which could deliver 33-37 seats in Spain’s 350 seat parliament. /4

Vox is all about national identity. The flag. Like Kippers there’s lots of talk of no longer being “ashamed” of the flag. The salesman doing good trade. /5

But the crowd is much younger than the average UKIP event! /6

And when I say “UKIP” like, I don’t mean Vox wants to leave EU - but on immigration, national identity, islamophobic sentiment, Nationalist nostalgia, taking back control of borders (ending Schengen) it’s a very similar vibe. /7

The core that links all the issues is National identity. “Por Espana!” “!Viva Espana!” Is the constant cry and the answer to every question. /8

One more key difference that I hinted at above.

Unlike UKIP or National Front or other EU populist right parties, Vox doesn’t seem to have captured the old working class Socialist (PSOE in Spain) vote. /9

That’s makes Vox phenomenon more a question of fragmentation of the right, than fundamental shift in Spain’s Left-Right blocks.

More later from the Rally. Starts 7pm UK time. /10

Like I said. Vox is all about the flag. Haven’t been at an event like this while covering EU politics - ie since covering White House race 2012. There’s definitely a vibe... one punter shouts ironically “Somos cuatro gatos” - (rough Eng trans “we’re just one man + his dog)

So this massive crowd is being played back to itself on the giant screen behind the stage. Chants of Ole...Ole, Ole, Ole. Like a football match in here.

Now playing this video. Watch. It’s slick, sugary stuff.

This crowd (out the door) is loving it.

Shades of Donald Trump rally now. Crowd is changing “get out” in unison at a journalist from a left wing TV station. She looks unruffled. But it’s pretty ugly stuff tbh...the tribe with its tail up.

Abascal is in the house. !Presidente! Presidente!

Rousing Abascal speech for the faithful.

Shorter: “we have awoken the sleeping soul of Spain”

Now closing with patriotic hymns. And lots more flag waving.

Time to say goodnight. /ENDS