Oviedo’s mayor, Alfredo Canteli, is facing sharp criticism after downplaying a violent attack during the San Mateo celebrations, describing the alleged assailants as "not such bad people." His comments came days after a group of eight beat two members of AMA Asturies, drawing condemnation from the victims and left-wing groups in the city.
The attack targeted Rubén Rosón, a former city councillor and doctor, and Jorge Fernández, who were both involved in organizing alternative, community-focused festivities. The two men were punched and kicked in the city center. Rosón needed stitches for a head wound. Fernández was also struck in the head, a blow Rosón said could have been fatal. Local media and RPTA confirmed that the incident took place on the night of September 11, 2026, during the San Mateo festival. Authorities are investigating it as a possible hate crime.
The conflict began when the attackers attempted to tear down a rainbow flag and an anti-racist poster at the Fiestes Populares booth, information from local news sources.
Instead of clearly condemning the violence, Canteli’s public statements appeared to defend the unidentified suspects. He suggested the attackers were not truly malicious, a position the victims called "inhuman" and lacking empathy. Rosón, who received many messages of support, said the mayor’s comments made light of the attack and failed to meet public officials’ responsibility to denounce such acts. La Voz de Asturias reported that Canteli said on September 13 that he did not know exactly what happened or who the attackers were. The remarks drew further criticism that he was minimizing the seriousness of the assault.
Thousands gathered in Oviedo’s Cathedral Square to protest the attack and the mayor’s response. AMA Asturies and other left-wing groups organized the demonstration, filling the square with people demanding a clear condemnation of the violence and an end to vague official statements.
Rosón linked the assault to a climate of hostility fueled by far-right rhetoric. He pointed to recent social media posts by Vox spokesperson Sonsoles Peralta, who criticized the alternative festival booths, and inflammatory remarks by Vox deputy José María Figaredo. Rosón said these actions help create an environment where hate-driven violence is tolerated or encouraged.
IU Oviedo demanded a 'clear, forceful and unconditional' condemnation from Mayor Canteli, while the regional government delegate, Adriana Lastra, described the incident as a 'brutal ideological aggression' and confirmed that the Policía Nacional is leading the investigation.
La Voz de Asturias
The attackers reportedly targeted booths displaying rainbow flags and anti-racist banners, vandalizing spaces set up to defend human rights. Rosón argued that the danger lies in the actions of eight people and in the broader political and media climate that encourages this behavior. Vox did not specifically condemn the incident, instead issuing a general statement against "all types of violence."
For many in Oviedo, the mayor’s remarks have become a focal point in a wider debate about public officials’ role in confronting hate crimes. The victims and their supporters have called on the Partido Popular, locally and nationally, to distance itself from Canteli’s comments and show support for those attacked. They also want national party leader Feijóo to publicly reject the mayor’s stance.
The incident happened beneath a large city-sponsored banner promoting "Amabilidá," Oviedo’s campaign to become European Capital of Culture 2031. Rosón pointed to the irony, warning that the mayor’s attitude could hurt the city’s chances by contradicting the values of dialogue and inclusion the campaign is meant to represent.
Similar debates over political responsibility and public safety have emerged elsewhere in Spain, including in a recent leadership dispute in Catalonia’s police force. These cases have intensified scrutiny of how authorities respond to violence and what standards are expected of those in power.
Oviedo’s recent events have put elected leaders’ response to hate-driven violence under scrutiny. When a city’s top official downplays an attack, it signals a lack of empathy and a failure of civic duty. Refusing to clearly oppose political violence risks normalizing it and eroding public trust. It also runs counter to the values promoted by "Amabilidá." The credibility of Oviedo’s institutions and its hopes for European recognition may depend on how its leaders respond.
