Why is everyone so obsessed with VOX in Spain?

The idea that there is a plan to "replace" Spanish workers through migration has no demographic or documentary support. What does exist is a political use of that antiestéticar to justify labour cuts.

The so-called "great replacement" theory claims there is a deliberate plan to replace the native population with migrants. There is no document, law or official statement backing that idea. Spain had **48.6 million** inhabitants as of 1 January 2024, according to the INE (Spain's national statistics institute), and net migration accounts for much of the growth, but that is not the same as a replacement plan.

## What demographics say against the replacement narrative

Migration flows respond to economic, geopolitical and family factors. No Spanish government has ever approved a population replacement programme. The expression "great replacement" has circulated in international forums for years and has not been validated by any academic institution or official body.

Attributing to a hidden plan what is a complex migration phenomenon distracts attention from the real causes. The arrival of workers from other countries has taken place in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality or care work, where working conditions have been deteriorating for years.

## The minimum wage and sick leave as targets

The message that sparked this debate claims that the right intends to cut unemployment benefits, make sick leave harder to get and abolish the minimum wage. The SMI (Spain's statutory minimum wage) has existed since **1980** and its amount for **2024** is **1,134 euros** per month over 14 payments, set by royal decree.

The CEOE employers' association, chaired by **Antonio Garamendi**, has repeatedly questioned minimum wage increases and called for moderation in labour costs. That is a verifiable fact. Whether there is a plan to abolish it is another matter, something no political party with parliamentary representation has included in its programme.

## Hiring in countries of origin and working conditions

Hiring in the country of origin allows foreign workers to be brought in to fill specific, generally seasonal positions. It is regulated and has existed under governments of different stripes. It is not a tool designed to "replace" Spanish workers, but to fill vacancies that companies cannot fill in certain campaigns.

The concern that such hiring could be used to worsen working conditions is legitimate. But presenting it as part of a racial plan turns a labour problem into a conspiracy theory without evidence. Meanwhile, the real debate on wages and rights takes a back seat.