Overview
- In his Sant Esteve message, Catalan president Salvador Illa urged “humanity” toward migrants and defended democratic coexistence, a speech widely read as a response to hardline rhetoric after the Badalona eviction without naming the case or the far right.
- ERC and the Comuns faulted the address for lacking concrete steps, pressing for January progress on Catalonia’s financing deal, the Rodalies mixed operator and stronger housing measures, as the government studies new anti-speculation taxation for early 2026.
- The PSOE’s setback in Extremadura left the PP–Vox bloc near 60% of the vote, with analysts pointing to heavy abstention among former socialist voters and transfers to the PP and smaller left lists, and upcoming regional ballots are viewed as tests of whether this trend endures.
- Pedro Sánchez told party leaders he will run more combative campaigns to counter disinformation and boost turnout, with Aragón on 8 February seen inside the party as the first gauge of any recovery.
- On the right, tensions between the PP and Vox have intensified as Vox gains leverage, while in Galicia the PSdeG faces continuing fallout from harassment allegations that prompted high-profile resignations and judicial follow-ups.