Table 7. VOX voter loyalty and voter changes. UP PSOE Cs PP VOX Others Null/blank No right to vote Abstained Total Source and notes: see Table 6. April 2019 VOX voters (2016 vote) Cases 5 16 48 211 Percentages 1.4 4.6 13.5 58.9 28 7.8 8 2.1 13 3.6 29 8.2 358 100.0 November 2019 VOX voters (April 2019 vote) Cases 6 14 43 78 215 4 4 4 28 397 Percentages 1.4 3.6 10.8 19.6 54.2 1.1 1.0 1.1 7.2 100.0 Table 7 illustrates VOX’s voter base during the 2019 federal elections, revealing substantial crossover from the PP. In April 2019, nearly 58.9% of VOX’s voters were ex-PP supporters, and 13.5% came from Cs. VOX also activated 8.2% of its electorate from previously non-voting individuals, indicating its mobilisation impact. 310 By November, VOX had retained the allegiance of 54.2% of its voters from the April election and attracted 19.6% of former PP supporters and 10.8% from the Cs constituency. These figures underscore VOX’s ongoing appeal to former PP voters, reflecting a significant realignment within Spain’s political right. 8.4 The modern PP: Shadows of radicalisation and factionalism This section examines the PP’s ideological pivot under the leadership of Pablo Casado and Alberto Nuñez Feijóo from 2018 to the present. It scrutinises the party’s gravitation towards more radical policy proposals and the alterations in the PP’s discourse while in opposition. The relevance of studying this shift lies not only in its impact on the party’s public stance but also in understanding the internal dynamics and struggles between factions. Political parties are not monolithic entities; the ideological tug-of-war within them can catalyse significant changes in a party’s direction. Thus, examining the interplay of different ideological groups within the PP is essential to grasp the nuances of its radicalisation and the potential ramifications for the Spanish political spectrum. While the PP has demonstrated a discernible shift towards more radical policy endorsements and increasingly polarising rhetoric during the last years, it is crucial to distinguish this from a fundamental disloyalty or semi-loyalty to democratic principles. It is, however, pertinent to note that radical elements within the party are gaining increasing influence, as highlighted in subsequent sections of this chapter. The PP’s rightward ideological shift under Pablo Casado’s leadership from 2018 to 2022 can be seen – at least partially – as a direct strategic response to the rising success of VOX in national polls and elections. The emergence of VOX on the political scene, particularly its notable performance in the April 2019 general election, where it The transformation of the mainstream right and its impact on(social) democracy 131