Beyond the Margin: Analyzing Romani Voting Patterns and the Rise of VOX in Spain

Autor principal:
Javier Padilla (Universidad de Oslo)
Autores:
Jordi Muñoz Mendoza (Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona)
Cristina Campos (Universidad de Barcelona)
Programa:
Sesión 6, Sesión 6
Día: jueves, 10 de septiembre de 2026
Hora: 15:00 a 16:45
Lugar: 18
This paper investigates the electoral behavior of the Romani population in Spain, specifically examining the rise in support for the far-right party VOX. Utilizing a novel dataset that integrates Fundación Secretariado Gitano records with the geolocalization of Evangelical Churches of Philadelphia, we employ a combination of qualitative and quantitative data to identify voting patterns at the census section level and the mechanisms at the individual level. Preliminary quantitative results indicate that, after controlling for socio-economic variables, VOX has experienced a distinct increase in popularity within Romani-majority sections compared to non-Romani areas. We further explore the institutional influence of the Evangelical Church as a potential mobilization agent. While the final phase of the study will incorporate semi-structured interviews to uncover the underlying psychological and social mechanisms, current findings suggest a significant shift in the traditional political alignment of Spain’s largest ethnic minority, challenging existing assumptions about marginalized groups and far-right mobilization.

Palabras clave: Romanies, Voting, VOX, Religion, Far-Right, Minorities