Abascal calls the Government a "criminal organization" and blames immigrants for the housing crisis: "They bring in five million people, but they don't build a single damn house"

Santiago Abascal has taken advantage of his rally this Friday in Mahón, Menorca, to attack Pedro Sánchez for his interview on 'La Revuelta' and point to immigrants for the difficulties in accessing housing. The leader of the far-right Vox has combined accusations against the Government with his proposal for expulsions, which includes people with legal residence who live on public aid. In the vicinity, around 400 anti-fascists protested against his presence.

The president's conversation with David Broncano, broadcast on Thursday on TVE, has served the far-right leader to accuse Sánchez of being "acting friendly" while his entourage, according to his words, would have "robbed Spaniards". Abascal has described his appearance as a "massage interview" and reproached the head of the Executive for "making little jokes about the situation". "Spaniards have not been in the mood for jokes for a long time," he stated.

Abascal has also used Broncano's question about the jewels found in José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's office to present as a proven fact their appropriation by the former president. "He stole them from State Heritage and took them to a safe in the PSOE headquarters, whose general secretary is Pedro Sánchez," he maintained. He then addressed the current president to demand that he stop "swindling" and "make himself available to the courts".

The matter has a judicial aspect that requires distinguishing accusations from accredited conclusions. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office raises a possible embezzlement for the conservation of the jewels, while their origin and whether they should have been incorporated into public heritage are being investigated. This suspicion must be clarified in the procedure, although Abascal has chosen to take the theft as proven from the stage.

Housing serves Vox to point to immigrants

The ultra leader attributed to Sánchez's years in government a 74% increase in housing purchase prices and a 40% increase in rents. He then linked this increase in price to the arrival of foreign population. "They have brought five million people here, but they haven't built a single damn house," he stated. His explanation left out other factors that particularly pressure the island market.

The seriousness of the problem is documented. According to the INE, purchase and sale prices rose by 13.7% year-on-year in the Balearic Islands in the second quarter of 2026, above the national average of 12.2%. The Bank of Spain links the price increase to a creation of households that exceeds housing construction and points to obstacles such as labor shortages, rising costs, and slow urban development, according to its latest quarterly report.

In the Balearic Islands, moreover, the use of the residential park is particularly relevant. Tourist housing and housing belonging to non-resident foreigners accounted for 10.9% of the total in 2025, compared to 3.3% nationally, according to the Bank of Spain. This weight of tourism and second homes introduces pressure on supply that disappears from Abascal's argument when he concentrates responsibility on immigration.

There are also completed developments with financial participation from the Executive, contrary to the assertion that its action has been limited to removing plaques from the former Ministry of Housing. Last July 28, for example, 59 affordable rental homes were delivered in Valladolid whose construction received 2.6 million euros from the Government, as part of the Recovery Plan.

Vox's expulsions also affect legal residents

Abascal has reiterated the three axes with which Vox is running in the general elections on November 29, the so-called "national priority", deregulation and tax cuts, and "remigration". Under this last term, the far-right includes the expulsion of irregular immigrants and legal residents who commit crimes or live off public aid. The proposal thus turns the perception of benefits into a reason to expel people with residence permits from the country.

The leader of Vox has also incorporated the expression "recover Ceuta" into his "national priority" discourse and has called Sánchez's government a "criminal organization". At the same time, he has asked his supporters to go out and vote and to distrust the polls that predict a broad majority for PP and Vox. The insistence on mobilizing his own accompanies a campaign in which he seeks to increase his strength against the popular party and his ability to condition a possible agreement.

During the event, Abascal denounced the "stigmatization" of his party and presented this week's protests in A Coruña and Avilés as attempts to silence him. In Mahón, some 400 anti-fascists mobilized without interrupting the rally. Called by members of CGT and two local entities, they initially gathered in Rochina park, where the protest was authorized, and then advanced towards the vicinity of Plaza de la Conquista, the scene of the event. Riot police blocked their way in Plaza de la Constitución.

The demonstrators chanted "Abascal, national shame" and "Here are the anti-fascists", amidst whistles, banners, and republican and Palestinian flags. The far-right leader will continue his tour of the Balearic Islands this Saturday, with events announced in Palma at noon and in Ibiza in the afternoon.