Overview

• The Spanish cabinet designated territories hit by fires and June floods as zones affected by an emergency and is drafting a decree to raise disaster aid amounts, after roughly 358,000 hectares burned in 15 days according to European fire data.
• The PP used its Senate majority to compel appearances this week by Defense Minister Margarita Robles, Ecological Transition Vice President Sara Aagesen, Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska and Agriculture Minister Luis Planas on wildfire management.
• To avert a defeat in the Congress’s Diputación Permanente, the PSOE announced voluntary appearances next week by Grande‑Marlaska on September 4 and Aagesen on September 5 to give explanations on the summer fires.
• The government’s partners ridiculed the PP’s call for a national register and electronic bracelets for convicted arsonists, noting official data show pyromaniacs represent a minimal share of cases, while Podemos also criticized the government for not strengthening firefighting services.
• In Argentina, three new polls report a technical tie between Fuerza Patria and La Libertad Avanza (+PRO) ahead of the September 7 Buenos Aires vote, as leaked audios about the disability agency triggered an internal audit, a pullback of LLA media appearances and preparations for a tough congressional session with Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos.