In the heart of Vitoria, during the peak of Día de la Hispanidad, events unfolded that will long be remembered by the city’s residents. In the morning, supporters of Falange Española gathered in the Plaza de la Provincia to express their views on national unity. Their slogans and Spanish flags were visible from afar, while a tight police cordon surrounded the participants.
Meanwhile, just a few hundred meters away in Plaza Arka, a gathering of opponents began—youth and activists speaking out against the colonial past and modern-day reaction. Their numbers gradually grew to hundreds, and soon they marched toward Plaza de la Provincia, where the other event was already underway.
Tensions rose when verbal altercations broke out between the two groups, followed by the throwing of various objects. Mobile police units were forced to intervene to prevent escalation. Special measures were employed, briefly turning the streets around the square into a confrontation zone.
As a result, Ertzaintza officers detained 17 young people suspected of participating in the unrest. They are accused of disturbing public order. Despite the tough measures, the situation in the city stabilized by evening; however, the discussion of what happened continues both on social media and on the streets of Vitoria. Local residents and observers note that such incidents are becoming increasingly common amid political and ideological divisions in the country.
