Political Tensions Mark Spain's 2025 National Day Parade with Boos and Notable Absences
Spain's 2025 National Day parade was marked by political tensions with boos directed at Prime Minister Sánchez and the notable absence of Vox leader Santiago Abascal.
- • Pedro Sánchez faced nearly 20 minutes of boos during the parade, continuing a trend since 2019.
- • Vox leader Santiago Abascal was absent for the first time, citing refusal to share space without ability to criticize the government.
- • Isabel Díaz Ayuso and other opposition leaders criticized Sánchez for fostering division and omitting the Spanish flag in his message.
- • The parade featured 3,847 military personnel with 13.6% women, and the Royal Family received warm public support.
Key details
Spain's National Day parade on October 12, 2025, was overshadowed by significant political discord, notably involving Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal. Sánchez faced prolonged boos totaling nearly 20 minutes when he awaited the arrival of the Royal Family, continuing a hostile trend that began at the 2019 parade. His political opponents, including Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid, openly criticized him for fostering division among Spaniards and notably excluding the Spanish flag from his official National Day message. Ayuso lamented that such behavior promotes a culture of conflict among the political elite.
Santiago Abascal made headlines by absenting himself from the official parade area entirely, marking the first time a political party leader declined attendance. He justified this decision by stating he would only share spaces with the government where he could criticize what he termed their corruption and indecency. This absence drew condemnation from the Popular Party, with leaders such as Ayuso and Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida emphasizing respect for the monarchy, asserting the king's position above political divisions.
The military aspect of the parade was prominent, featuring 3,847 personnel — with women composing 13.6% — along with 45 aircraft and various displays. The Royal Family, including King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía, received warm public applause while honoring fallen soldiers during a tribute led alongside the Princess of Asturias. Despite political rifts, Defense Minister Margarita Robles highlighted the humanitarian contributions of Spanish troops deployed abroad during a video call tribute.
Several government ministers missed the event due to official travel commitments, and some regional leaders were absent due to adverse weather conditions, further underscoring Spain’s current political and logistical divides. Sánchez responded to the boos by posting a video expressing pride in Spain, although his message was met with skepticism and critique by opponents such as Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who called for unity among Spaniards.
Overall, the 2025 National Day parade, while showcasing Spain’s military strength and royal unity, laid bare the deep-seated political tensions defining the current climate in Spain.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.