AGP Executive Report

Football: Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior will miss four league matches, including El Clásico against Barcelona, after a red card for pulling an opponent’s hair. Coach José Mourinho criticised the federation for announcing the ban shortly before Madrid’s Champions League match. Catalonia: Around 200 tractors rolled through Barcelona as farmers demanded lasting support, citing rising costs, low payments and drought. Rescue at sea: Spanish NGO Salvamento Marítimo Humanitario has postponed its next Central Mediterranean mission until next year, saying doubled fuel prices have made the operation unaffordable. Transport: Adif expects to restore high-speed Madrid–Barcelona service early next week after a train fire near Ricla halted traffic and forced 283 people to evacuate. Economy: Spain’s non-tourism service exports climbed to €105 billion in 2025, supporting growth and the country’s current-account surplus.

Industry: China has cleared Geely’s acquisition of a 34% stake in Ford’s Spanish subsidiary. Green Energy: Moeve has launched the $1.2 billion first phase of an Andalusian hydrogen project expected to become Europe’s largest when operational in 2029. Rescue at Sea: Spanish charity SMH has postponed its next central Mediterranean mission until 2027, citing doubled fuel costs, and will focus on waters near Valencia, Mallorca and Menorca. Environment: Thousands of fish, including endangered European eels, died after a two-kilometre stretch of the Guadalfeo River on Granada’s Costa Tropical ran dry; environmentalists say the legal minimum flow may not have been maintained. Catalan Politics: A regional poll puts the PSC first in Catalonia’s next election, ahead of ERC, while Podemos and Ada Colau’s Frente Amplio remain divided over how to unite the left for November’s general election. Rail: Adif expects to restore normal Madrid-Barcelona high-speed service early next week after a train fire near Ricla caused delays. Algeciras: Andalusian PP leader Juanma Moreno says the party will move to oust mayor José Ignacio Landaluce if he refuses to resign amid allegations of sexual assault.

Valencia Crime: Villarreal goalkeeper Peter Gulácsi and his family were held at gunpoint during a robbery at their home in Puzol, north of Valencia. No injuries were reported, and police are investigating. Rail Disruption: An AVE fire near Ricla forced 283 people to evacuate and halted Madrid–Barcelona services; a separate train breakdown in Zaragoza also disrupted traffic. Weather: After unusually hot mid-October conditions, temperatures are expected to drop sharply over the weekend, with possible heavy showers in the southeast. Public Services: The government approved €363.7 million in 2026 transport subsidies for Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and the Canary Islands, and plans 700 new judge and prosecutor positions by 2027. Valencian Housing: The European Commission warned that residency requirements for public aid could discriminate against foreign residents, raising questions over Valencia’s rule requiring ten years of local registration to apply for protected housing. Food Safety: Spanish eggs were withdrawn after a salmonella alert linked to 13 illnesses.

Election Campaign: The PP and Navarra’s UPN have agreed to run together in the November 29 general election, with Alberto Núñez Feijóo as their candidate. A regional poll puts PSOE ahead in six areas, while Vox leads in the Canary Islands. Housing: Madrid’s tent protest has become a flashpoint in Spain’s housing crisis, with demonstrators demanding action as rents and shortages squeeze residents. Catalonia: Five parties have agreed on a democratic memory law with fines of up to €150,000 for glorifying Francoism and a two-year deadline to remove Francoist symbols from public spaces. Health: Andalucía’s flu and Covid vaccination campaign will expand to people aged 70 and over and those with chronic conditions from October 14; people aged 60 and over can book from October 21. Transport: An AVE train breakdown in Zaragoza forced passenger evacuations and halted the line in both directions. Galicia: The EU has granted strategic-project status to the proposed Touro copper mine, but it still needs final environmental approvals.

Politics: Pedro Sánchez was booed at Spain’s National Day parade as tensions spilled into Madrid. With a snap election set for November 29, housing is a central campaign issue; left-wing parties have proposed former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau as their candidate, while ERC and Podemos are pursuing a separate pact in Catalonia. Rail Disruption: An AVE train from Madrid to Figueres broke down near Ricla, Zaragoza, prompting passenger evacuations and a shutdown of the line in both directions. Separate Ouigo driver strikes threaten upcoming holiday travel. Food Safety: Spanish eggs have been pulled in a serious EU alert after 13 people fell ill with salmonella. LaLiga: Racing Santander’s Yassir Zabiri scored his seventh goal of the season in a 2-2 draw with Valencia, while Betis beat Osasuna 5-2 to climb to third.

Spain’s Election Race: With snap elections set for November 29, polls point to a possible PP–Vox majority as Vox gains support. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is making the housing crisis a campaign focus amid protests over evictions and calls for a general strike. Rail Disruption: Ouigo drivers have called six strike days from October 30 to December 8, threatening travel on key routes during holiday weekends. Club Crisis: Rayo Vallecano’s return to its Madrid ground lasted less than 25 minutes before fans’ paper-plane protest over the club’s management halted play. La Liga: Real Betis climbed to third with a 5-2 win over Osasuna, while Valencia drew 2-2 with Racing Santander. Moroccan striker Yassir Zabiri scored his seventh league goal. Residency Services: Spain is introducing an automatic system to allocate appointments for foreigner ID cards, aiming to ease a persistent booking backlog.

La Liga: Real Betis climbed to third with a 5-2 win over Osasuna, led by Isco’s brace. Valencia drew 2-2 at Racing Santander, while Real Sociedad edged Deportivo 3-2. Ceuta and Melilla: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are due to visit Ceuta on Tuesday and Melilla on Wednesday — Felipe’s first visits as king — amid renewed attention to migration and Spain’s territorial dispute with Morocco. Housing: The crisis is moving to the center of Spain’s political debate, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez making it a campaign priority and unions calling a general strike. New eviction rules are also reportedly stopping some cases. Residency: A pilot now automatically assigns fingerprint appointments for some TIE applicants in Alicante, Málaga, Murcia, Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona. It covers only 10% of eligible applications, so most applicants still need to book themselves.

Valencia Crash: Police are investigating a collision near Oliva that killed a 20-year-old motorcyclist. Sira Martínez, daughter of PSG coach Luis Enrique, was reportedly in the car and escaped unharmed. La Liga: Vinícius Júnior’s red card against Villarreal has reignited debate over refereeing consistency and could put his place in the Clásico at risk. Housing and Elections: Housing protests sparked by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen are reshaping the campaign debate. The PSOE is exploring joint Senate lists with left-wing and regional parties to challenge the PP’s majority, while Vox leader Santiago Abascal has begun campaigning in Andalusia. Regional Policy: Catalonia will require sellers and landlords to disclose whether homes contain asbestos. The Basque High Court president has called for laws—not emergency decrees—to support housing policy. Transport: Spain’s DGT traffic helicopters have stopped flying from bases in Málaga, Seville and Santiago de Compostela amid financial trouble at their operator. Málaga: Buses and Metro carried nearly 50 million passengers in the first eight months of 2026, with use rising faster than in Seville and Madrid. Health Alert: Spain has ordered the recall of the supplement El Toro after tests found undeclared sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra.

Election Campaign: Pedro Sánchez launched his campaign in Andalusia, making housing the centrepiece after his government’s housing measures were defeated in parliament. The 29 November election comes as polls point to a possible right-wing majority; ERC and EH Bildu have also agreed to run together for the Senate. Catalonia: A new law requires owners selling or renting homes built before 2002 to provide a certificate stating whether the property contains asbestos. Zaragoza: The Pilar festivities continue Sunday with 85 events, ahead of Monday’s Flower Offering, which is expected to draw nearly 100,000 people. Football: Barcelona beat Getafe 3-0 to maintain their perfect start to the season and their lead in La Liga.

Election Campaign: Pedro Sánchez pledged to fight for fair housing at a rally in Andalusia, making the eviction and death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal a central campaign issue ahead of Spain’s November 29 election. Housing unions have called a nationwide strike for November 11. Senate Alliances: ERC and EH Bildu will run together again, while the PSOE is discussing a broader left-wing ticket with Frente Amplio to challenge the PP’s Senate majority. Andalusia: Vox has called on PSOE leader María Jesús Montero to answer allegations of mail-in vote buying in several towns; the claims remain allegations. Separately, families of two Andalusians jailed in Equatorial Guinea plan a protest in Granada, accusing the government of abandoning them. Valencia Region: The PSPV says seven municipalities will lose judicial family meeting points from November, despite a partial reversal of planned cuts. Fatal Crash: Police are investigating British Olympic equestrian Scott Brash over a fatal collision with a motorcyclist near Oliva; Luis Enrique’s daughter, who was also in the car, was unharmed.

Housing Fight: Spain’s November 29 election is increasingly focused on the housing crisis. Unions are calling for a general strike, while the death of 87-year-old Maricarmen after her eviction has become a rallying point. In Catalonia, rent controls coincide with fewer new rental contracts, the country’s highest number of evictions for unpaid rent and nearly four in ten reported squatting cases. Catalan Politics: The Supreme Court has lifted the arrest warrant for former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, clearing the way for his return after years in exile ahead of the election. Regional News: Ouigo train drivers plan six strike days across October, November and December, threatening travel on several long weekends.

Housing and Politics: Spain’s November 29 snap election is increasingly focused on housing, after the eviction and subsequent death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal sparked protests and encampments. A Bilbao housing camp is urging support for a November 11 general strike, while warning that voting alone will not solve the crisis. Spain’s long-term rental supply has fallen sharply in recent years. Catalonia: The Supreme Court has lifted the arrest warrant for former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, clearing the way for his return after an amnesty ruling. Floods: Two people were killed and one remains missing after flooding in Catalonia, prompting authorities to warn residents against travel. Valencia: On the region’s October 9 holiday, president Juanfran Pérez Llorca called for major agreements on housing, public services and regional funding.

Snap Election: Spain’s November 29 vote is shaping up around the housing crisis, after Pedro Sánchez called an early election following protests and a parliamentary defeat. Left-wing parties are racing to agree on a shared ticket, while ERC faces departures and uncertainty over Gabriel Rufián’s candidacy. Housing: Unions have called Spain’s first general strike in 14 years for November 11, linking low wages to unaffordable rents. The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal after her eviction has intensified the debate; Catalonia accounts for nearly half of Spain’s new protected housing. Catalonia: Spain has lifted the arrest warrant for separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, clearing a path for his return after almost nine years abroad. He says amnesty alone will not resolve the conflict. Storm Aftermath: Deadly torrential rain in Catalonia killed two people and disrupted Barcelona-area rail services, with train drivers warning the Rodalies network is unsafe. Immigration: Police are piloting automatic fingerprint appointments for migrants granted residency in six provinces, aiming to end the scramble for bookings and curb the appointment black market.

Housing Protests: Seven Andalusian capitals are holding tributes and protests after Maricarmen died following her eviction. PSOE regional leaders say her case must spur action on housing access, already a defining issue ahead of Spain’s November 29 snap election. Catalonia: Spain has lifted the arrest warrant for separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, clearing the way for his return after nearly nine years abroad. Data Centres: The government plans tighter rules on water and electricity use by new data centres, including major projects in Aragon, and says it can press ahead before the election without a parliamentary vote. Galicia: Xosé Manuel Beiras, a leading intellectual and figure in the region’s modern left, has died aged 90. Storm Aftermath: Torrential rain killed two people in Catalonia earlier this week and caused major airport and Rodalies rail disruption.

Snap Election: Spain will vote on November 29 after Pedro Sánchez called an early general election, freezing much of the government’s agenda. The housing crisis is a central campaign issue, with unions calling a November 11 strike and protests continuing over rents and evictions. Catalonia: The Supreme Court has lifted the arrest warrant for former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, clearing the way for his return after nearly nine years abroad; he says amnesty alone is not a solution. Weather and Transport: After deadly flooding in Catalonia, an Atlantic front is bringing sub-freezing mornings to the north. Rodalies train drivers say the rail network remains unsafe, with storm damage disrupting service. Crime: Three suspects were caught trying to steal 50 kilos of cocaine from a ship in Algeciras, allegedly disguised as port workers. Corruption: Former Catalan Parliament speaker Laura Borràs will avoid prison under a suspended sentence that requires 25 hours of anti-corruption education.

Snap Election: Spain will hold a general election on November 29 after parliament rejected the government’s housing measures. The vote puts Pedro Sánchez’s future on the line, with polls pointing to a possible PP–Vox majority. Catalonia: Train drivers kept Rodalies services disrupted, saying they need safety reports before trains return after severe storms. The flooding killed two people, while torrential rain also disrupted flights and roads. Puigdemont: Spain’s Supreme Court has lifted the arrest warrant for the exiled Catalan leader after the amnesty ruling, clearing a legal path home. He has cooled talk of returning before the election. Housing Protests: Demonstrations over soaring rents and shortages have turned violent in Barcelona, where police arrested 13 people. The housing crisis is central to the election campaign.