In Sevilla, two days before the official launch of the Christmas lights and holiday events, the security plan has not been approved. More than 300 city streets are already decorated with lights, but the issue of additional police support and funding for their work remains unresolved. The reason is the blocking of a €5.6 million allocation for overtime payments to municipal police officers. All opposition parties—PSOE, Vox, and Podemos-IU—voted against the decision.
Mayor José Luis Sanz, after an emergency city council meeting initiated by Vox, stated that the administration will continue working to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. However, he accused the opposition of trying to ruin the holiday for locals and jeopardizing public order.
Holiday festivities under threat
This is an unprecedented situation: in December, Sevilla traditionally hosts mass celebrations, parades, Christmas markets, concerts, sporting events, and even the derby between Sevilla and Betis football clubs. During these days, the city fills with people and the police face an enormous workload. Despite this, the municipality still has no alternative action plan.
Authorities are considering approving the security plan by special decree, bypassing the council. However, this option is not supported by police unions or the administration’s finance department. Another possibility is to use last year’s plan, but it only covers the period from December 19, meaning the first weeks of December, including the long holiday weekends, would be left without increased patrols.
Political disputes and financial disagreements
The ruling Partido Popular (PP) argues that security should be above politics and financial constraints. According to party representative Juan Bueno, the main goal is to maintain order in the streets during the holidays. The opposition, however, accuses the administration of poor planning and failing to reach agreements with the police. PSOE spokesperson Sonia Gaya noted that security requires not only money, but also clear coordination among all parties.
Police unions are demanding at least eight million euros, as was allocated last year, and for all days from late November to January 7 to be declared special, allowing officers to receive additional pay. However, last year’s plan was valid for only one year and cannot be automatically extended. If a new plan is not approved, an even older plan will come into effect, which does not reflect the current situation.
Resource shortages and police fatigue
The finance department of the administration warns: funds for overtime payments have already run out by April, and there is only a small amount left for December. The municipality proposed using funds from the 2026 budget to cover expenses for the current festivities. However, the opposition believes the city should not host so many events if it cannot guarantee their safety.
During discussions over payments of overtime debt for May through October, the Vox party abstained from voting, allowing nearly five million euros to be allocated for this purpose. Nevertheless, the broader issue of managing the work of the police and firefighters remains unresolved. The opposition is calling for systematic changes, not temporary fixes.
Protests and Police Response
At the city council meeting, police officers entered the hall wearing Christmas hats and holding signs to show their dissatisfaction. They were asked to leave before the mayor’s speech. José Luis Sanz stated that the administration is doing everything possible within current resources and reminded that the new plan is tailored to the budget’s limits.
While authorities search for a way out of the crisis, unions have already announced their intention to challenge the possible implementation of the plan by decree. Residents and visitors of Sevilla remain in the dark: will the city be reliably protected during mass festivities, or will the holiday spirit be threatened by political disputes and a lack of resources?
