When Oviedo’s mayor, Alfredo Canteli, brushed off a violent attack on two activists as a minor incident, he stirred local anger and exposed deeper tensions in Asturias’ political scene. The victims, Rubén Rosón and Jorge Fernández, were beaten by a group of eight during the city’s San Mateo celebrations. Rather than condemn the violence, Canteli defended the alleged attackers, saying, "I don’t think they’re such bad people."
That comment quickly became a flashpoint. For the victims and their supporters, it showed a blatant lack of empathy. "It’s inhuman, as if he has no heart," Rosón told elDiario.es as he recovered from head injuries and bruises. The attack took place during Oviedo’s festivities and targeted members of AMA Asturies, a group known for organizing alternative community events. Those events have often clashed with the city’s official agenda since Canteli’s administration began restricting them in 2021.
Information from RTPA, Rosón required five stitches and suffered multiple head injuries and bruises so of the attack.
Rosón, a former city councillor and practicing doctor, described the violence plainly: "For what it could have been, we’re lucky to be alive. One wrong kick to the head and my colleague might not be here." He says the attackers acted deliberately, vandalizing festival booths decorated with rainbow flags and anti-racist banners, symbols of Oviedo’s grassroots activism. "They came to destroy everything that stands for human rights," he said.
The mayor’s response has only made matters worse. Canteli’s remarks seemed to excuse the violence and cast doubt on the victims instead of supporting them. "He tried to muddy the debate by attacking me personally," Rosón said, pointing to his background in public healthcare. Canteli’s failure to clearly condemn the assault has prompted calls for Partido Popular branches locally and regionally to distance themselves from his statements. National party leader Feijóo has also been asked to clarify his position.
Public anger boiled over on Saturday, when thousands gathered in Oviedo’s Cathedral Square to protest the violence and demand accountability. The demonstration, organized by AMA Asturies with support from the Asturian left, sent a clear message: fascist aggression will not be ignored. Most of the city’s right-wing parties have stayed silent. Vox declined to specifically denounce the attack and issued a generic statement against "all types of violence."
In the days following the incident, local and regional media reported that no arrests had been made, though the victims filed official complaints with the Asturias police headquarters. The case is under investigation by the Policía Nacional, as confirmed by government delegate Adriana Lastra.
Rosón links the assault to a wider climate of hostility fueled by far-right rhetoric. He cites recent social media posts by Vox spokesperson Sonsoles Peralta, who publicly targeted the alternative festival booths, and comments by Vox deputy José María Figaredo, who called for "hunting immigrants." Rosón says these messages embolden extremists and encourage an atmosphere where violence is tolerated. "This is what happens when hate is injected into society by political and media movements," he said.
The city’s campaign for European Capital of Culture 2031, built around the slogan ‘Amabilidá’ (Kindness), now seems out of touch. The attack took place in a square dominated by a giant banner promoting that message. For Rosón, the contradiction is obvious: "The mayor’s words put the entire candidacy at risk. They go against everything these European distinctions stand for."
Despite the violence and political fallout, Rosón says he is trying to focus on hope. "We have an obligation to be optimistic, even after a beating," he said. "Asturias has always been a land of solidarity and human rights. That’s what we saw in the protest, thousands standing up for civic and social values."
The stakes reach beyond activist safety and the festival’s reputation. They concern the moral credibility of Oviedo’s leadership. When those in power downplay violence and protect its perpetrators, they send a dangerous message about whose rights matter. Canteli’s failure to clearly oppose fascist aggression reflects a basic failure of civic responsibility. In a city that claims to value kindness, silence from the top says more than any slogan.
