Demonstrators threw bottles and stones at one another during Vito Quiles’s rally in Pamplona on Thursday. Quiles spent about 10 minutes in Plaza de Yamaguchi before leaving in a van. Containers were overturned, and police detained at least one person. Later reports put the total at three arrests: one by the Policía Nacional and two by the Policía Foral. Diario de Navarra reported that four officers suffered light injuries, while Euronews said one participant was hit in the head by a foam bullet.
Police used tear gas and rubber bullets, then charged demonstrators.
The rally was part of Quiles’s Spain tour under the slogan “Mafia or Homeland”. It was scheduled for 6pm and marked the first stop on a planned tour of 14 Spanish cities. Two counter-protests were called for half an hour earlier, one in Plaza del Castillo and another in Plaza de la Compañía. The Delegación del Gobierno en Navarra moved Quiles’s event from Plaza del Castillo to Yamaguchi after police warned of a risk of further unrest. Policía Nacional and Policía Foral mounted a large security operation at Plaza de Yamaguchi, where Quiles was due to address supporters.
About 100 supporters greeted him with chants and banners reading “The one who silences you is a fascist” and “Freedom of Expression”. Euronews counted fewer than 100 Quiles supporters and described several hundred people opposing the event. Diario de Navarra put the protest crowd at about 3,500. During his brief speech, Quiles said, “Navarra is more Spanish than ever.” His supporters replied, “Pedro Sánchez, son of a bitch.”
Quiles said the right would send the current government “to the dustbin of history” in the next general election, scheduled for 29 November. RUSSPAIN.COM has also covered Spain’s election timetable.
At the counter-demonstration in Plaza del Castillo, people chanted “Basque Country, no to fascism” and “Fascists out of our streets”. A march called by GKS Iruñerria left Plaza de la Compañía and crossed the old town, with participants chanting “In the face of fascism, class unity”. Europa Press reported that a group overturned containers and blocked traffic. Police intervention officers charged the crowd and used tear gas.
Clashes continued after Quiles left. Reports said containers were overturned and roads blocked elsewhere in the city, including Avenida de Bayona and Barnañáin.
The incident follows a controversy involving Quiles and members of the Spanish Legion. On Monday, after the 12 October parade, Quiles boarded a bus at Madrid’s Plaza de Colón as Legion members travelled back to their base in Viator, Almería. Soldiers chanted his name and shouted when he yelled, “Go after the reds!” Quiles recorded the exchange and posted the video online. The Army has opened an investigation into legionaries who cheered him and joined his exhortations.
A Quiles event at the University of Pamplona last year also ended in incidents. Two people were detained. El Español journalist José Ismael Martínez was attacked by hooded assailants while reporting on the clashes; his outlet described the attack as “brutal”.
After Thursday’s events, the Government of Navarra condemned Quiles’s “hate speech” and categorically rejected any violent response. Sources in the regional government said his conduct and polarising rhetoric clashed with the values of respect and coexistence associated with Navarrese society. The government described Navarra as welcoming and plural, and said everyone is free to travel and express themselves within the Fundamental Rights protected by democracy. It said freedom of expression cannot justify hate speech or excuse intolerance and confrontation. The Sindicato Unificado de Policía in Navarra praised the Policía Nacional’s response as professional and called its handling of the unrest “impeccable”.
