Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has spearheaded an exceptionally hostile policy toward Israel in recent years, was met on Monday with curses, loud whistling, and chorus boos upon his arrival at the central military parade in Madrid marking Spain’s National Day.
Video: social media
According to a report by the Europa Press news agency, Sánchez arrived in his official vehicle at Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo and remained waiting inside for several minutes before emerging to join senior state officials awaiting the royal family. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia subsequently arrived at the site, accompanied by Crown Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía.
Loud boos and heckling directed at the prime minister erupted once more during the official reception for the royal family and persisted through the end of the parade. While this is not the first time Sánchez has faced public derision during National Day festivities, this year’s ceremony unfolded amid a fiercely tense snap election campaign. The parade featured 4,380 members of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and public emergency services, alongside dozens of aircraft, 128 vehicles, and 286 horses.
1+Six Weeks Before Elections, Sánchez Hits New Low
General elections in Spain are scheduled for November 29, after Sánchez called snap elections following parliament’s rejection of his cabinet’s proposed measures to tackle the country’s housing crisis. The Socialist prime minister, in power since 2018, now confronts a commanding lead by right-wing parties in public polling. A poll published by the El País daily showed the conservative People’s Party (PP) and the right-wing Vox party securing a combined 198 seats—far above the 176 seats required to form an absolute parliamentary majority.
A separate poll published on El Confidencial granted the two parties a combined 200 seats. According to El País, the People’s Party commands 31.9% of the popular vote compared to 28.1% for Sánchez’s Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). The prime minister’s party is projected to slide from its current 121 seats to 112, while Vox is positioned to double its parliamentary strength compared to the previous election nearly.
1+Beyond the severe housing crisis, the upcoming campaign is set to center on an escalating migration crisis and widening corruption investigations involving Sánchez’s family and inner circle. The prime minister has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the legal proceedings against his associates are politically motivated.
Led Hostile Campaign Against Israel
For Israeli audiences, Sánchez is recognized as one of the most hostile heads of government in Europe. In 2024, his administration officially recognized a ‘Palestinian’ state, imposed an arms embargo on Israel, and prohibited ships and aircraft transporting military equipment to Israel from docking in Spanish ports or transiting Spanish airspace.
Video: social media
Sánchez went further by accusing Israel of “genocide” in the Gaza Strip, pushing to restrict imports from Israeli settlements, and lobbying to suspend the European Union–Israel Association Agreement. His government also boosted funding allocations to the ‘Palestinian’ Authority and UNRWA. Israel forcefully rejected the allegations, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar characterizing Madrid’s actions as antisemitic.
The diplomatic rupture between the two capitals escalated dramatically this past March, when Spain permanently withdrew its ambassador to Israel. The Spanish embassy in Tel Aviv has since remained under the management of a temporary chargé d’affaires amid ongoing diplomatic friction between Madrid and Jerusalem.