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Spain Faces Mounting Tensions Over Blackout Inquiry and Vallcarca Evictions

As investigations into the April 28 power outage continue, Barcelona prepares evictions after a fire in Vallcarca's shantytown highlights housing crises.

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Almeida, con Pablo Enrique Rodríguez (derecha), en la festividad del patrón de la Policía Municipal, en 2023

Overview

  • The Spanish government has yet to determine the technical causes of the April 28 blackout, with expert reports pending and a parliamentary inquiry under consideration.
  • Pedro Sánchez has pledged transparency regarding the blackout, while facing criticism from opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who linked the incident to unrelated political controversies.
  • The Socialist-led coalition narrowly passed a tariffs decree in Congress, with Podemos abstaining, reflecting internal tensions within the government.
  • In Barcelona, municipal authorities are finalizing eviction notices for Vallcarca shantytown residents following a fire that injured one person and intensified calls for alternative housing solutions.
  • The Vallcarca fire has reignited debates over urban planning neglect, with local associations divided on how to address the settlement's future without exacerbating gentrification or displacement.