Overview

• The Europa/Viva 25 convention opened at Madrid’s Palacio de Vistalegre under the slogan “COMIENZA LA RECONQUISTA,” co‑organized with the Patriots group.
• Immigration dominated speeches, extending a summer of hardline messaging that included calls to expel irregular arrivals and proposals to bar Muslim rites in public spaces, which drew pushback from Catholic bishops.
• Several expected international figures were missing or dialed in remotely, with Viktor Orbán, Marine Le Pen and Matteo Salvini absent and Argentina’s Javier Milei participating telematically after poor results in Buenos Aires.
• Speakers voiced distrust of EU institutions, with figures such as Fabrice Leggeri blaming Commission policies for migration flows and Pascale Piera criticizing decisions affecting Marine Le Pen.
• Santiago Abascal appeared wearing Charlie Kirk’s “freedom” shirt as party leaders framed the event as a defense of liberty, with the main addresses set for Sunday and Abascal slated to close the convention.