In an unprecedented political and judicial escalation against racist rhetoric in Spain, Francisco Lucas, Secretary General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in the Murcia region, announced that his party had filed a formal complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office against José Ángel Antelo, the regional leader of the far-right Vox party. Antelo's complaint stemmed from statements the party deemed to be clear incitement to hatred against immigrants, particularly those from North Africa, including Moroccan immigrants.

The move follows events in the town of Torre-Pacheco last weekend, when Antelo spoke at an event organized by his party under the slogan “Defend yourself against insecurity.” He directly linked crime to immigration, stating explicitly, “We don’t want people like this in our country. We will deport them all. There won’t be a single one left.” He also accused undocumented migrants, particularly from North Africa, of committing crimes against the elderly, gay people, and Spanish women, saying that Spaniards were “tired of paying the price for this immigration, which has become a daily threat.”

The statements, described as inflammatory and contrary to democratic values, sparked widespread anger among the Spanish left and civil society organizations, especially as they coincided with the circulation of videos and photos that the Podemos party described as"encouraging extrajudicial executions" and inciting the "persecution of migrants."

The party also announced its intention to file a lawsuit against Vox leaders, including its national leader, Santiago Abascal.

The Spanish Socialist Party affirmed that these statements"blatantly contradict human rights and undermine the safety and dignity of thousands of migrants living in the Murcia region."

He stressed that "there is no place for racism or violence in a democratic system," while holding the Popular Party partly responsible for what he considered "indirect complicity" in the hate speech promoted by Vox.

These developments come amid growing tensions related to immigration in Spain, particularly in agricultural regions such as Murcia, which attracts thousands of Moroccan workers. They are often subjected to smear campaigns and incitement, despite their significant role in supporting the local economy.