Overview

• Vox leader Santiago Abascal skipped the authorities’ tribune and the Royal Palace reception on Spain’s National Day after notifying the Royal Household in advance.
• He followed the Armed Forces parade from the street at Plaza de Colón and addressed reporters before the events began.
• In a letter to King Felipe VI, Abascal said the official acts are used to whitewash the Sánchez government and asserted that his absence was not an affront to the monarch.
• He said Vox will only share spaces with the executive in parliamentary forums such as Congress, where he intends to denounce the government.
• He drew a visibly young crowd and cited growing youth backing, with El Mundo reporting a Sigma Dos estimate of about 22.7% vote intention for Vox in the youngest age bracket.