Sánchez calls for a ban on Israel and Russia from all international sports competitions.

BarcelonaThe Suspension of the Vuelta following pro-Palestinian protests This weekend's protests in Madrid have generated a high-voltage political clash between the Spanish government and the opposition. While on Sunday, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez expressed his "admiration" for the protests, and the PP harshly criticized these remarks, this Monday the leader of the Popular Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, went even further, holding the Spanish president "responsible" for the pro-Palestinian protests, which he described as an "act." The criticism from the PP did not make Sánchez back down, and he reiterated his position in a speech in Congress before the PSOE deputies, senators, and MEPs. On the contrary, the socialist leader went a step further. "Until the barbarism ceases, neither Russia nor Israel should be involved in any further international competitions," argued Sánchez, who asked sports organizations to consider whether it is "ethical" for Israel to use these platforms to "whitewash" itself.

"Why was Russia expelled after the invasion of Ukraine, but Israel wasn't expelled after the invasion of Gaza?" Sánchez criticized the double standard applied between the two countries, which the Spanish president has lumped together. The Moncloa government argues that Israel's exclusion should be "general," meaning that it should go beyond sporting competitions and that the international community should also take action in competitions like Eurovision, from which Russia has already been expelled. Regarding this matter, the Minister of Culture of Sumar, Ernest Urtasun, advocated for a new boycott and suggested that Spain should not participate in the next edition of Eurovision if Israel is not banned from the contest.

The PP, for its part, disqualifies the Spanish government, accusing it of having "promoted" the protests at the Vuelta a España. "A president who promotes violence cannot lead a democratic government," stressed the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, in his speech at a breakfast briefing this morning. "It cannot be naturalized that former ministers and government partners have promoted, or even participated in, acts that have attacked police officers," Feijóo stated, adding that police unions are "outraged" with the Spanish government: "They have not had the support of the politicians who command them." Unions such as Jupol have already called for the resignation of President Sánchez, the Minister of the Interior, and the Spanish government delegate in Madrid.

The Popular Party (PP) has used the pro-Palestinian protests as another way to criticize Pedro Sánchez's government actions, and Feijóo asserted that, if he becomes president of Spain, "he will never justify anyone's violence, nor will he receive the applause of terrorist organizations." In fact, the PP leader has described the suspension of the Vuelta a España race this Sunday due to pro-Palestinian protests as "internationally ridiculous."

The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, insisted on this line, denying that this weekend's protests were "peaceful": "It was a violent demonstration." "I don't deny the legitimacy of those who demonstrated peacefully yesterday because of the suffering of the people of Gaza, but rather that the president is calling for violent protests," he asserted, although he avoided calling the Israeli government's attacks on Gaza "genocide." In fact, he accused Sánchez of trying to instigate a "confrontation" with Madrid. "He may set our streets on fire or instigate riots, but we will beat you again," he predicted.

As usual, Isabel Díaz Ayuso was the one who raised her voice the most with Sánchez. The Madrid president accused the Spanish president of having promoted a mobilization that, in her opinion, was not against the war in Gaza, but "against the Vuelta a España (Spanish Revolution), Madrid, and Spain." Another example, according to what she said on EsRadio, of the "fascist communism that this man represents." The Popular Party leader, who went so far as to say that Madrid gave the impression of a "Sarajevo at war" and where "Jews are persecuted," also specifically attacked the Spanish government delegation in the Community of Madrid, asserting that the security deployment for the protests was less than promised. A thesis that Almeida also defended: "[The Spanish government] tied the hands and feet of the state security forces and bodies."

The Spanish government defends the protests

In the face of criticism from the People's Party (PP), the Spanish government has come out in defense of the protests, just as Pedro Sánchez did this Sunday. The Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, Óscar López, celebrated Madrid's "shout out to the world" in the face of "the genocide" in Gaza. At a Europa Press breakfast briefing, López celebrated Spain's "recognition and recognition for rejecting and combating this genocide," and also praised Pedro Sánchez's championing of measures against Israel. "I heard Ms. Ayuso describe what happened yesterday as "kale borroka," and I find it completely irresponsible, grossly ignorant, and an insult to the Spanish people," retorted the Minister for Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, Elma Saiz.

In addition to defending the protests, the Spanish government has also denied the PP's accusations of violence. "Except for a few specific moments, the protest was peaceful," Francisco Martín, the executive delegate in the Community of Madrid, told SER. He described the incidents as "minimal" and defended that they were "resolved effectively" by the police. Martín, in fact, accused Ayuso of "not making things easy" after she was photographed with the Israel-Premier Tech team, which she supported. "We always work to try to account for the development of the sporting event with [...] fundamental rights, and one of them is the right to demonstrate and freedom of expression," he concluded.

Along the same lines, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, defended the fact that the protests were led by a "peaceful" majority and described the police deployment as "absolutely sufficient." "Yesterday I saw the image of a society truly committed to world peace, and I saw the image of absolutely professional state security forces and bodies that are the envy of any democratic state," he stated in a statement to the media before Óscar López's briefing lunch. "The National Police handled the complex situation, as they always do, in terms of proportionality," he said.

Meanwhile, in an interview on Catalunya Ràdio, Comuns MEP Jaume Asens described Sunday's events as a "victory for organized civil society." He admitted that he experienced the protest with "emotion" and stated that seeing people standing up to the "horror" and violations of international law in Gaza "reconciles" him with humanity.

From Catalonia, President Salvador Illa has argued that "what is happening in Gaza is genocide" and that "denying it is wrong and contradicts reality." "63,000 dead, 150,000 injured, 250,000 people at risk of malnutrition, many of them children, and almost 2 million displaced. This is called genocide. Things must be called by their name. Otherwise, nothing sensible can be done," he argued at a conference in Barcelona.