Briefing
The Spanish government has strongly condemned the unrest in recent days in Barcelona and Bilbao and called for de-escalation. Government spokesperson Elma Saiz said after the cabinet meeting that violence had no place in a democracy and that political debate must not turn into calls for violence. She also rejected accusations by the Partido Popular that the executive or senior officials were fuelling the unrest, with Saiz calling such claims “barbaric” and “deeply irresponsible”.
The regionally responsible police forces are investigating: in Catalonia, the Mossos d’Esquadra are deployed; in the Basque Country, the Ertzaintza. According to the authorities, clashes in Barcelona led to numerous arrests, property damage and looting; in Bilbao, barricades were erected and property was damaged. So far, final figures for injuries, arrests and property damage are available only in preliminary form. The relevant judicial authorities are continuing their investigations to establish what happened, who was responsible and whether there were any organisational structures involved.
The conflict has escalated during the ongoing election campaign. The Partido Popular’s lead candidate and number two on its Madrid list, Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, has sharply criticised President Pedro Sánchez at public appearances, accusing him of allowing political calculation to contribute to a climate of confrontation; she has repeatedly spoken of a deliberate strategy of polarisation. The government says political criticism is part of democratic competition, but draws a clear distinction between it and unsubstantiated accusations of guilt on the one hand, and findings made through criminal investigations and legal proceedings on the other.
Several regional governments and parties also condemned the riots. Regardless of the political debate, security officials stressed the importance of due process: only police investigations and, where appropriate, court proceedings can establish reliable findings on responsibility. The government appealed to all political actors to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and respect the work of the investigative authorities.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).