Feijóo accuses Sánchez of inciting Barcelona unrest ahead of November election
PP candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo blamed Prime Minister Sánchez for Saturday's disturbances in Barcelona during a pre-campaign rally in Salamanca, despite offering no evidence.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the Partido Popular's nominee for the upcoming general election, used a pre-election gathering in Salamanca to allege that Prime Minister Sánchez is responsible for the Saturday disturbances in Barcelona, where protests turned into looting and clashes. Flanked by Castilla y León president Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, Salamanca mayor Carlos García Carbayo and campaign spokesperson Ester Muñoz, Feijóo linked the Barcelona incident to recent unrest in Ceuta, A Coruña and Madrid, suggesting a pattern of governmental negligence.
He accused Sánchez of failing to curb violence and of mishandling the economy, pointing to rising costs of electricity, gasoline, housing and wages as evidence of inflation and tax hikes. On housing, Feijóo claimed the PSOE has ignored the country's foremost problem and vowed that the PP would deliver a specific, measured housing plan, promising one million new homes this legislature, though he offered no specifics. The remarks came as the PP seeks to position itself as a solution-oriented alternative ahead of the November 29 vote.
Why it matters
The accusations highlight the PP's strategy to link the government to public disorder ahead of the national election.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage emphasizes Feijóo’s accusation that Sánchez’s negligence caused unrest and economic woes, while centrist coverage reports the factual response and arrests, and right-leaning coverage condemns Sánchez as the cause of chaos and praises Feijóo’s defense of peace.
LEFT
Frames the story as Feijóo accusing Sánchez of inciting unrest and mishandling the economy.
CENTER
Frames the story as reporting Feijóo’s reaction, the scale of arrests, and his claim that the left resists leaving power.
RIGHT
Frames the story as a strong condemnation of Sánchez for fueling chaos and a defense of civil peace by Feijóo.
The left emphasises
- inciting Barcelona unrest
- government negligence
- inflation and tax hikes
The right emphasises
- "playing with fire"
- "destroying any chance for peace"
- radical left parties... encouraging the turmoil
How this story developed
- Oct 15 PSOE internal analysis says unified left list could secure Senate absolute majority
- Oct 18 The PP chief used a Barcelona gathering to boost its prospects in the province that supplies the most seats in the upcoming vote. Vox sent Carlos Hernández Quero to EsRadio and euro-deputy Jorge Buxadé to a press conference in Sevilla. Meanwhile, civil groups such as PararLaGuerra launched a campaign in Madrid to bring Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court, and minister Ángel Víctor Torres appeared on a televised interview. The day also featured commentary on language policy, social media influence, and the pending Supreme Court ruling on the ‘grandchildren law’ voting rights.
- Oct 23 The deep-fake video, featuring Begoña Gómez, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Santos Cerdán, was posted by the PP and labeled as AI-generated. The PSOE says it may sue, while the PP claims the clip is satirical. Legal scholars note broad protection for political speech in Spanish and European law but warn about potential violations of honor, image rights and electoral manipulation. The episode also brings attention to pending legislation regulating AI-created media.
- Oct 23 Feijóo publicly declared he will pursue government formation even without his party winning the most votes.
- Oct 25 The PSOE announced it is studying legal options over the PP’s AI‑generated video.
- Oct 25 Feijóo disclosed a meeting with Abascal to discuss a Senate power‑share deal.
- Oct 25 Feijóo gathered PP list leaders in Salamanca as negotiations on a joint Senate list with Vox continued.
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