AGP Executive Report

Barcelona Unrest: Catalan police arrested 128 people overnight after shops were looted and 23 premises vandalised; 73 of those detained were minors, and 15 officers were injured. Election Deal: The PP and Vox will coordinate Senate candidates in 23 provinces ahead of the November 29 election, aiming to strengthen the right’s hold on the upper house and secure influence over judicial appointments. Canary Islands Migration Row: Regional leaders accused Madrid of failing to share warnings about rising arrivals and demanded urgent coordination; President Fernando Clavijo said he had asked Pedro Sánchez for answers. Regional Powers: Navarra and the central government agreed to transfer responsibility for research and innovation, effective January 1, 2027. Housing: Spain’s consumer affairs ministry is seeking the removal of 8,318 holiday-rental listings accused of exploiting temporary-rental rules.

Barcelona Unrest: Police arrested 128 people after overnight looting and vandalism, including 73 minors; 15 officers were injured and 23 businesses damaged. The clashes add pressure on Catalan authorities as protests spread across Europe. Election Stakes: Spain’s early general election is complicating Agriculture Minister Luis Planas’s campaign to lead the FAO, as government backing could shift after the vote. Separately, Moncloa reportedly sees up to 12% of PSOE voters moving to the PP or Vox. Housing and Pensions: The government is seeking to remove more than 8,300 holiday-rental listings for breaching housing rules, while about 25,000 people rallied in Madrid for guarantees on the public pension system.

Barcelona Unrest: Police arrested 128 people after youth-led protests turned violent, with shops looted, fires set and officers injured. Catalan leader Salvador Illa condemned the vandalism as Spain heads toward its Nov. 29 election. Housing and Pensions: Spain’s Consumer Affairs Ministry is seeking the removal of 8,300 holiday-rental listings over alleged breaches of housing rules. In Madrid, pensioners marched for stronger guarantees, while protesters at Puerta del Sol began preparing to dismantle their month-long housing camp ahead of a planned Nov. 11 strike. Election Campaign: Vox is urging the PP to form a joint Senate pact, while party leaders frame the vote as a choice between competing visions of public order and government. Ceuta and Melilla: The PP’s Dolors Montserrat said Europe would not abandon the Spanish enclaves and highlighted an €80 million proposal to bolster border security.

Barcelona Unrest: Police arrested 100 people after an anti-establishment rally turned violent, with shops looted and more than 30 fires reported; around a quarter of those detained were minors. Pensions and Election: Tens of thousands rallied in Madrid for inflation-linked state pensions, with turnout estimates ranging from 25,000 to 50,000. The issue is a flashpoint ahead of Spain’s November 29 snap election, with Sánchez accusing the PP of planning to weaken pension increases. Campaign Stakes: Sánchez has vowed to protect abortion rights in the constitution, while PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo says he would change abortion and euthanasia laws if elected. A Changing Congress: Demographic shifts mean Madrid will elect 38 deputies on November 29, up from 32 in 1977, while Barcelona’s allocation falls from 33 to 32, reflecting population growth in urban and coastal areas. ETA Legacy: Fifteen years after ETA ended its armed campaign, former Basque leaders Patxi López and Edurne Uriarte recall a shared victory whose political narrative remains disputed.

Pensions and Election Stakes: An estimated 250,000 people marched in Madrid demanding guarantees for state pensions, putting inflation-linked increases and fears of privatisation at the centre of the Nov. 29 election debate. Vox’s Ambitions: Santiago Abascal is calling for a “large majority” so he can lead the next government, rejecting a secondary role in a PP-led administration. Right-Wing Pact Talks: The PP and Vox are exploring a province-by-province Senate deal, while PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has left the door open to governing with Vox and pledged to revisit abortion and euthanasia laws.

Election Stakes: With Spain’s Nov. 29 vote approaching, PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has left the door open to governing with Vox and pledged to revisit abortion and euthanasia laws. The parties are also exploring province-by-province Senate pacts. Housing: The government has ordered platforms to remove 8,318 listings advertised as seasonal rentals but bookable for under 31 days, most of them in Madrid; the housing decree still needs parliamentary ratification. Political Scrutiny: Anti-corruption prosecutors have asked for former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to face an embezzlement charge, while a judge has sought records of his institutional gifts. Migration: Spain and Italy have ended border checks imposed after the Ceuta crisis, as migration remains a campaign issue.

Election Campaign: Spain’s November 29 vote is already generating controversy: the PP’s AI-made video depicting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife and other Socialists admitting to wrongdoing drew nearly two million views and a rebuke from the digital transformation minister over its barely visible AI disclaimer. PP–Vox Alliance: Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo left open governing with Vox and said a PP government would revisit abortion and euthanasia laws; he also outlined pension increases and a million-home construction plan. Legal Scrutiny: Anti-corruption prosecutors want former Socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero investigated over allegedly retaining valuable state gifts. The judge has requested records but has not ruled. Housing and Migration: A Madrid housing protest camp entered its second month as housing remains a campaign flashpoint. Spain and Italy agreed to restore open-border rules after months of checks triggered by the Ceuta migrant crisis. Party Lists: Parties are unveiling candidates, with Canary Islands nationalist Cristina Valido saying her list will press the archipelago’s interests in Madrid.

Election Campaign: Vox leader Santiago Abascal questioned the fairness of Spain’s Nov. 29 election and accused the government of betraying Spaniards in Ceuta, as parties sharpen their focus on migration. Argentine President Javier Milei also intervened in the campaign, calling Pedro Sánchez a “dictator” and urging voters to oust the PSOE; Madrid condemned his remarks. Housing Pressure: Protesters have kept a tent camp in central Madrid for more than three weeks, demanding stronger action on housing after an elderly tenant died following eviction. The crisis is becoming a major test for the government and parties seeking votes. Ceuta and Migration: Spain and Italy have ended border checks imposed after last summer’s Ceuta migrant rush, restoring Schengen rules. Migration remains politically charged, with the right pressing the issue and asylum claims still pending. Catalan Politics: A court ruling has cleared former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to return to Spain without facing arrest, a significant development for separatist politics and Sánchez’s parliamentary alliances.

Election Campaign: Spain’s November 29 vote is taking shape: Comuns approved Ada Colau’s Barcelona-led list, leaving out Aina Vidal and Gerardo Pisarello, while Vox is keeping many of its provincial candidates from 2023. Pedro Sánchez is bringing the campaign to a popular TV sofa, with an interview on La Revuelta and invitations extended to rival candidates. Spain–Argentina Tensions: Javier Milei called Sánchez a “dictator” during his Madrid visit and urged Spaniards to oust the PSOE; Madrid condemned his remarks as interference. Water Dispute: Murcia president Fernando López Miras accused the central government of using repairs to the Tajo-Segura transfer to reduce water deliveries. He warns the disruption could cost €260 million and put 5,600 jobs at risk. Ceuta and Borders: Italy and Spain have lifted temporary border checks imposed after the Ceuta migrant rush, restoring Schengen travel, while PP and Vox continue pressing the migration crisis as an election issue.

Milei–Sánchez Row: Argentina’s Javier Milei used his Madrid visit to call Pedro Sánchez a “dictator” and urge Spaniards to oust his government. Madrid condemned the remarks as an interference in Spain’s politics, as the country heads toward a November 29 election. Election Alliances: Spain’s conservatives are weighing a pact with far-right Vox, while the left remains divided and lawmakers from the outgoing parliament face a crowded agenda of bills that may need to restart after the vote. Catalan Politics: A court ruling cleared former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to return to Spain without the threat of arrest, reviving a major issue in the election campaign. Flood Response: After deadly Storm Adam battered eastern Spain, Sánchez pledged recovery aid and called for a national climate pact.

Milei’s Election Intervention: Argentina’s President Javier Milei called Pedro Sánchez a “dictator” and urged Spaniards to oust his government in the November 29 election. Madrid condemned the remarks as interference; Sánchez responded with an ironic “lefties welcome you” banner. Housing Crisis: Sánchez’s government pledged €45 million for nearly 2,000 new student housing places as high rents and evictions fuel protests and political turmoil. Campaign Stakes: Polls suggest the conservative PP could need Vox to govern, while Catalonia’s anti-immigration Catalan Alliance is also gaining ground. The government has approved new social protections ahead of the vote, including increased support for children whose other parent fails to pay.

Housing and Politics: Tens of thousands protested in Madrid and Barcelona over evictions and soaring rents, intensifying pressure on the government ahead of the November 29 election. The eviction of an 87-year-old tenant became a rallying point, while activists say government measures fall short. Election Campaign: The PSOE has backed Pedro Sánchez as its candidate, but left-wing parties remain divided; Más Madrid says talks with the Socialists are ongoing to improve electoral results. The PP is finalizing its candidate lists, while Vox leader Santiago Abascal seeks support from international allies. Storm Response: Storm Adam killed at least four people in eastern Spain and triggered evacuations. Sánchez has pledged recovery aid and called for a national climate pact. Migration: EU governments are weighing emergency measures that could suspend asylum procedures after mass arrivals in Ceuta. Madrid is defending its migration policy amid criticism from European leaders. Andalusia: The regional parliament is set to vote on renewing Juan de Dios Mellado as head of public broadcaster RTVA, with expected support from the governing PP and Vox.

Election Campaign: Salvador Illa says Spain’s November 29 vote will decide whether the next government backs Catalan self-government. With left-wing parties unable to agree on an alliance, a new voter-led platform is asking supporters to coordinate behind one candidate in each province. Ceuta Migration Dispute: Interior Minister Ángel Víctor Torres rejects Ceuta’s charge of government inaction, citing 7,400 reception places and stepped-up operations to clear migrant encampments. The dispute over returns and asylum cases is heading toward the Supreme Court. Housing and Benefits: Housing remains a key campaign issue as protests spread and young left-leaning voters weigh whether government measures will address affordability. The government has also approved new social benefits, including a widow’s pension route that does not require marriage or a civil partnership. Right-Wing Ties: Argentina’s Javier Milei is visiting Madrid during the campaign and is due to visit a foundation linked to Vox; meanwhile, Spain’s conservatives are in talks with Vox over an election deal.

Flood emergency: Storm Adam has killed at least four people in eastern Spain, stranded residents and triggered hundreds of rescues. The government says military emergency teams are assisting. Election race: With the November 29 vote approaching, PSOE has backed Pedro Sánchez as its candidate, but left-wing parties have failed to agree on a united ticket. Vox has offered the PP a Senate deal as the left seeks to challenge its majority. Political tensions: A court ruling clears former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to return to Spain without arrest. Separately, the electoral board has opened proceedings against Sánchez over housing remarks. Migration policy: Spain’s plan to legalise 600,000 migrants faces scrutiny in the EU, while rights groups have raised concerns over the government’s push to clear the Ceuta migrant backlog.

Election Maneuvering: Spain’s left is heading into the November 29 snap election divided after unity talks collapsed, while Vox leader Santiago Abascal has opened the door to Senate deals with the conservative PP to challenge the PSOE and its allies. Flood Emergency: Storm Adam has brought deadly flooding to eastern Spain, triggering evacuations, confinement alerts and school closures across parts of Valencia and Alicante. Migration Policy: The government’s plan to regularize up to 600,000 migrants remains a point of friction with EU partners, even as former ECB chief Luis de Guindos calls immigration vital to Spain’s growth. Student Affairs: The government is proposing expanded student rights and more than $50 million for university housing.

29N Election: Spain’s left heads into the Nov. 29 vote divided after unity talks collapsed, while the PSOE has backed Pedro Sánchez as its candidate. A Madrid poll commissioned by Iustitia Europa puts the PP at 33.8%, PSOE at 22.7%, Vox at 16.5% and Iustitia at 12.5%, pointing to a fragmented contest. Vox’s Push: Santiago Abascal’s party plans to run in all 52 provinces and both autonomous cities, betting on rising support to win new seats. Migration Dispute: Spain’s plan to regularize 600,000 migrants has sharpened divisions in Brussels, with Denmark urging the EU to examine its effects and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for coordination. EU Budget: Spain is among the countries seeking to protect regional and farm funding as EU leaders remain split over the bloc’s 2028–34 budget.