A large knife shown in material sent to Government delegate Francisco Martín has become a focal point in the dispute over the Puerta del Sol housing camp. Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida says the site cannot be described as a peaceful protest.
He pointed to alleged damage at the Oso y el Madroño monument and at the monument to victims of terrorism. He also cited the knife as a possible weapon if violence broke out, saying that was his concern.
Almeida said he hoped there would be no incidents. He questioned the mockery surrounding the image and asked whether anyone would normally keep such a large knife at home to cut bread or spread hummus.
By October 1, the camp had 1,248 tents, information from the Union of Tenants estimate cited by El Constitucional. The number continued to rise.
The mayor rejected any suggestion that he had linked the camp to ETA. He said his criticism concerned actions and slogans tied to the protest. A projection on the Sol façade attacked Ayuso and Almeida. A coffin marked with Ayuso's name was also removed after television cameras filmed it.
Almeida referred to paving stones taken from nearby works. Supporters said the stones were meant for the tents. He cited the episode as another reason to reject the camp's peaceful label and said chants at the site went beyond a housing demonstration.
The argument has moved beyond the square. Almeida told Óscar López to calm down and said he was not accusing the protest of having links to ETA. The dispute follows earlier coverage of the camp's organisation and size in an earlier report.
Asked about a recent March for Dignity that supported Ceuta and called for elections, Almeida said he opposed insults against Pedro Sánchez. He said that remained his position even when the insults came from a demonstration involving the PP.
Political disagreement was acceptable to him; abuse was not. He also recalled his criticism of protests outside the PSOE headquarters on Ferraz Street, where residents and businesses had to put up with the disruption.
Almeida said ideology could not excuse violence. He condemned every violent act and incident, regardless of its source, and criticised people who rejected violence only when it suited them.
The mayor also questioned the protest's choice of targets. A saucepan protest reached Madrid City Hall, while the housing camp stood outside the regional government headquarters. Almeida asked why similar pressure had not reached Moncloa, despite housing responsibilities being shared by municipal, regional and national authorities.
His argument is that the Spanish Government should face the same criticism as Madrid City Hall and the Community of Madrid. He pointed to the national housing situation as another reason to question the absence of protests at Moncloa.
The dispute has now entered an administrative and judicial phase. Madrid City Hall asked the Government delegation to act immediately over the camp. The regional government filed or prepared legal requests for urgent measures that could lead to its dissolution.
The Government delegation in Madrid, led by Francisco Martín, says it will act strictly within the law and respect the right to assembly. The regional government says the basic authorities are inactive, while Isabel Díaz Ayuso's administration is seeking urgent court measures to dissolve the camp. El Constitucional and Democrata described those positions.
RTVE reported on the camp's continuation and on Almeida's earlier demands for its immediate removal. El Constitucional and Democrata also described the competing positions of the regional authorities and the Government delegation.
Public space is part of the argument too. Madrid City Hall said the Oso y el Madroño monument had been damaged and put fencing around it to prevent further harm. Representatives of the PP and the mayor's office cited photographs showing a large knife and paving stones in the camp.
Those images are their evidence against calling the protest peaceful. Más Madrid representatives said there had been no incidents since the camp began.
The housing dispute remains unresolved. Almeida has made security and public order his test for whether the demonstration is peaceful. In his view, protest is legitimate, but not when it involves vandalism or violence, or includes insults.
