The right is putting pressure on the Spanish government over the controversy surrounding the anti-abuse bracelets.

BarcelonaThe controversy over anti-abuse bracelets has opened a new battle between the Spanish government and the People's Party (PP). The conservatives are attacking the executive for what they call a "failure" and are calling for the resignation or dismissal of the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo. Along these lines, they will bring a proposal to Congress tomorrow to condemn her. Meanwhile, Redondo asserts that the mechanisms used to ensure compliance with some restraining orders in cases of domestic violence—which are used very little in Catalonia compared to other parts of the country—have worked "at all times." This idea is also emphasized by Spanish government spokesperson Pilar Alegría, who this morning argued that while the system "is not infallible," it is "safe," and accused the People's Party (PP) of lying and causing "fear and uncertainty."

All of this stems from the report of the Attorney General's Office, presented this September by the Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz. The document explains that during 2024, some prosecutors' offices, such as those in Castellón and Pontevedra, revealed "multiple flaws" in the bracelets. According to the report, there was a "potential lack of protection for victims" when, following a change in the service provider, some data regarding the use of the devices by those under investigation or their location was no longer available. This situation was not reported by the Ministry of Equality and is the source of some of the criticism the minister has received.

What explanations has the ministry given?

Despite this incident, the minister recently sent a message of reassurance to all women protected by this device, assuring them that "the devices are working correctly" and that the "malfunctions" caused by data roaming "will be resolved in 2024." "They can rest assured because they are protected and safe," said Redondo. The ministry also points out that no incidents have been reported with these devices during 2025.

What is the scope of the incident?

However, to date, the exact moment the incident occurred, how long it lasted, and how many devices it affected are unknown. In any case, since this protection system was implemented, no woman with a bracelet has been murdered by her abuser.

What does the opposition say?

Given the ministry's lack of specifics, the People's Party (PP) rushed to call for an "examination of responsibilities" and used the opportunity to denounce the executive's "incompetence." The conservatives are calling on the minister to resign, and if she doesn't, they believe the Spanish government should dismiss her. Furthermore, tomorrow the party will present a proposal to Congress to reprimand Redondo.

Former Minister of Equality Irene Montero, currently a Podemos MEP, has also been implicated in the controversy, as the change of company that led to the incident occurred while she held the ministry. Montero denounced the controversy this morning in an interview on TV3 as "a big lie" from the judicial, political, and media right, and said that what occurred "is not a failure in the bracelets," but rather "a temporary inability to access the history of violations of restraining orders."

What impact has it had in Catalonia?

The number of devices affected by the system error is currently unknown. In Catalonia, organizations that work with victims of gender-based violence consulted by ARA state they are not aware of any incidents. However, the use of the bracelets in Catalonia is quite limited. The latest data available through the Spanish government's delegation against gender-based violence is from July of this year. Andalusia is the autonomous community with the most active bracelets, with 1,635 in operation. The Valencian Community is in second place, with 502, and Catalonia is at the bottom, with only 80 active devices.