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Safety Mandates Cancel Vigo’s Coia Festival as Basque Towns Boost Security and Galicia Pushes Rail Upgrades

Coia’s century-old San Juan festival fell victim to new safety mandates, prompting a North-Spanish security clampdown accompanied by renewed Galician demands for Atlantic rail upgrades.

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Overview

  • After the Vigo council rejected its autoprotection plan, Coia’s organising committee cancelled this year’s San Juan festival and will refund nearly €23,000 to local donors.
  • Ondarroa’s town hall deployed a 24-hour police presence, closed the music plaza and church mirador, and arranged dedicated medical and anti-harassment services for its mass-attendance 'Zapato azule'.
  • Lasarte-Oria introduced an inclusive safety strategy for San Pedro, including reinforced police shifts, a nocturnal electric bus service and protocols to prevent sexist aggression.
  • Gondomar’s municipal government took direct control of San Benito festivities, approving 45 mechanical rides—double last year’s tally—and extending the fairground footprint.
  • In Brussels, the Xunta de Galicia met Spain’s Atlantic Corridor commissioner to demand a comprehensive director plan, a formal liaison with Renfe and faster investment in the rail link.