Madrid’s National Day parade opened with a hostile reception for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Europa Press reported that he arrived ahead of the royal family on 12 October, and spectators responded in much the same way as the monarchs greeted representatives of the authorities. La Sexta reported that Sánchez reached Plaza de Neptuno at around 10:56, shortly before the ceremony began, as spectators shouted an explicit insult. The reports describe the crowd’s reaction but do not identify a particular group behind it.
The parade took place during the campaign for the early parliamentary election scheduled for 29 November. Spanish media also placed the ceremony in the context of the crisis around Ceuta and heightened political tension. The reports do not establish that either issue caused the boos or identify a party or organisation responsible.
Felipe VI attended with Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. The programme included the national anthem and salutes. Before the parade began, the King reviewed the troops.
Campaign coverage has also focused on the political backdrop. A poll published on 12 October put Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s People’s Party at 28.7% and projected it to win 121 to 125 seats. In that poll, 56.6% of respondents expected Feijóo to win, compared with 19.1% who expected Sánchez. The findings come from a single poll and do not show that polling caused the reaction at the parade. Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso used the occasion to call for Sánchez’s period in office to end, tying her remarks to the coming election and support for Ceuta.
Reports say insulting shouts were heard when Sánchez arrived and again as authorities were greeted. They provide no reliable estimate of how many people took part.
A separate poll, conducted on 10 to 11 October among 1,000 voters, projected a lead of more than 90 seats for the centre-right PP-Vox bloc.
