Vox promises to expel 8 million migrants: electoral populism or sheer fantasy?

Madrid, July 10, 2025A new controversy has shaken the Spanish political scene. The far-right party Vox recently stated that if it comes to power, it would expel “eight million migrants.” The statement was made by Rocío de Meer, the party’s Interior spokesperson, and quickly triggered a flood of criticism, both from the left and from Vox’s natural allies on the right.

The figure has been questioned by multiple experts and media outlets. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), approximately 6.8 million foreigners currently live in Spain, including European Union citizens, naturalized individuals, and roughly half a million in irregular situations. In no demographic scenario does the number reach the eight million that Vox claims it would expel.

What is most alarming for legal experts and political observers is that many of these residents already hold Spanish citizenship, meaning their expulsion would require radical changes to legislation, including a constitutional reform. Moreover, it would constitute a direct violation of fundamental rights enshrined in international treaties and the Spanish Constitution itself.

Despite this, Santiago Abascal, the party leader, tried to qualify the statement days later: “We are not dealing with concrete figures; we will establish parameters if we govern,” he said, openly contradicting his spokesperson. This clarification has only generated more doubts about the seriousness and feasibility of the plan.

The People’s Party (PP) was quick to respond. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid, completely distanced herself: “That is not possible, nor legal, nor fair,” she declared. Meanwhile, PP spokesperson Miguel Tellado called Vox’s statements “an irresponsible exercise in pure populism.”

The government responded more forcefully. President Pedro Sánchez accused Vox of inciting hatred and fueling fear with false data. Government spokeswoman Pilar Alegría described the proposal as “xenophobic, unconstitutional, and profoundly dangerous to democracy.”

Beyond the media noise, the proposal raises a deeper question: are we witnessing a populist escalation ahead of the next elections, or is this simply a provocation strategy to dominate the political debate?

In any case, Vox’s statements highlight a worrying reality: the use of false figures and unachievable promises as electoral tools. Meanwhile, millions of Spanish and foreign citizens alike watch with concern as political discourse increasingly drifts away from facts and legality.

At Laboratorio360, we will continue analyzing these strategies closely. Because behind every sensational headline, there is always a truth worth telling.