AGP Executive Report

Election Watch: Spain’s campaign has been jolted by a PP video using AI deepfakes of people linked to Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists; the tiny AI disclaimer has done little to calm criticism. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has also left open governing with Vox and pledged to revisit abortion and euthanasia laws if he wins the Nov. 29 election. Valencia Deal: Peter Lim has sold a 42% stake in the club to a US-backed consortium, valuing it at €1.25 billion and bringing €100 million in fresh investment. El Clásico: Barcelona host Real Madrid on Sunday in a pivotal league clash, with Barça chasing a third straight title and José Mourinho back in charge of Madrid. Royal Milestone: Princess Leonor took on her first solo duties at the Princess of Asturias Awards, where Lionel Messi received the sports prize. Border Relations: Spain and Italy have ended the checks imposed after the Ceuta migrant crisis, restoring Schengen rules.

Spain’s Energy Dispute: A Belgian court lifted an €75.76 million embargo on state-owned Enaire, a boost for Madrid in its long-running fight over renewable-energy subsidy claims by foreign investors. Ceuta Border Reset: Spain and Italy have ended reciprocal border checks imposed after a surge in migration from Ceuta. Thousands of asylum claims remain pending, with rights groups raising concerns over Spain’s efforts to clear the backlog. Madrid–Buenos Aires Tensions: Argentina’s President Javier Milei called Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez a “dictator” during a Madrid visit. Spain condemned his remarks as an insult and interference in its politics.

Border Controls: Spain and Italy have lifted checks imposed after the Ceuta migrant surge, restoring Schengen rules after months of tension. Spain–Argentina Relations: Javier Milei reignited his feud with Pedro Sánchez during a Madrid visit, calling the Spanish prime minister a “dictator”; he also said Argentina would pursue its Malvinas claim through diplomacy, not war. Energy: Brent crude climbed above $112 a barrel amid fears of disruption to Saudi supplies, while Spain released 4.4 million barrels of middle distillates from strategic reserves. Transport: Waymo is preparing to test robotaxis on Madrid’s streets, with commercial rides targeted for 2027 after a phased, safety-focused rollout. Culture: Woody Allen is filming his 51st movie in central Madrid as the city seeks to strengthen its profile as an international film hub. Royal Calendar: Oviedo hosts the Princess of Asturias Awards on Friday, with Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía attending.

Spain–Argentina Row: Javier Milei called Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez a “dictator” during his Madrid visit and backed Spain’s far right ahead of elections. Madrid condemned the remarks as interference, deepening the diplomatic rift. US Visa Dispute: Washington defended denying former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau permission to travel to Puerto Rico after her Gaza flotilla activism, saying a US visa is a privilege, not a right. Storm Recovery: Storm Adam killed at least five people in eastern Spain and forced thousands to evacuate; European lawmakers backed recovery aid for Spain and other affected countries. Spain–Morocco Relations: Spain’s foreign minister said Madrid and Rabat are in naval dialogue to prevent unwanted incidents.

Diplomatic Tensions: Spain condemned Argentine President Javier Milei for calling Pedro Sánchez a “dictator” and urging voters to oust him, accusing him of interfering in the run-up to Spain’s 29 November election. Sánchez answered with an ironic welcome banner and defended his left-wing policies. Flood Emergency: Storm Adam has killed at least seven people in Spain and forced thousands to evacuate, with torrential rain battering the east and disrupting transport. Housing Crisis: The government will spend €45 million to help fund nearly 2,000 university housing places as soaring rents fuel public anger and protests. Regional Security: Spain’s foreign minister says Madrid and Rabat are holding naval talks to prevent an “undesired situation.”

Flood Emergency: Deadly Storm Adam has brought torrential rain to eastern Spain, killing at least four people, flooding towns and forcing evacuations and stay-at-home orders. Housing Crisis: Tens of thousands have rallied in Madrid and Barcelona over soaring rents and evictions, with protesters pitching more than 1,200 tents in Puerta del Sol. The demonstrations are intensifying pressure on the government ahead of snap elections. Election Campaign: Argentina’s President Javier Milei is visiting Spain to support Vox, though leader Santiago Abascal is keeping his distance as the far-right party courts voters. Morocco Relations: Spain’s foreign minister says Madrid and Rabat are holding naval talks to prevent an “undesired situation,” as security and strategic influence remain key concerns between the neighbours.

Deadly Floods: Storm Adam has killed at least five people in eastern Spain, triggered evacuations and stranded residents as torrential rain swamped towns and disrupted transport. Election Fight: With snap elections set for November 29, Catalan president Salvador Illa warns voters will decide whether Spain’s next government backs Catalan self-government. Housing is emerging as a key issue for young voters and the left. Diplomacy: Argentine President Javier Milei is visiting Madrid, where he is due to meet regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso and visit a Vox-linked foundation; no meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is planned. Social Pressures: Spain’s housing protests form part of wider European anger over living costs and public services. Care Waiting Times: Spain’s long-term care waiting list has fallen by nearly 40,000 in a year, but the average decision still takes 293 days—and 529 in Murcia.

Flood Emergency: At least four people have died in severe flooding across eastern Spain. Rescuers pulled more than 450 people from rooftops, buildings and vehicles as roads and campsites flooded; emergency restrictions have since eased in most areas. Election Politics: Spain’s left heads into November’s vote divided after Podemos stayed out of a broader alliance, weakening Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s hopes of holding power. Migration: Spain’s efforts to clear the asylum backlog in Ceuta have raised rights concerns, while its plan to regularise 600,000 migrants faces scrutiny from EU partners. Legal Dispute: Singapore’s appeals court rejected Spain’s sovereign-immunity defence, leaving a €291 million arbitration award sought by NextEra Energy enforceable.

Severe Flooding: Storm Adam has killed at least four people in eastern Spain, with floodwaters stranding residents, submerging roads and prompting evacuations and school closures. Catalan Politics: Spain’s Supreme Court has cleared former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to return without fear of arrest, ending a long legal battle over his role in the failed 2017 independence bid. Ibero-American Ties: Madrid is hosting representatives from 30 cities to discuss urban policy, AI, culture and security, with affordable housing and city-to-city cooperation on the agenda. Economy and Migration: Former ECB vice-president Luis de Guindos said immigration accounts for about two-thirds of Spain’s recent economic growth, while calling for migration to be orderly, legal and targeted. Diplomacy: Spanish and Qatari officials met in Doha to discuss expanding cooperation and other shared interests. Spain has also said it sees no sign that France’s unrest will spread across its borders.

Energy: Spain’s wholesale electricity prices jumped 182% to a 2026 high on Monday. Severe Weather: Torrential rain killed a woman swept away by floodwaters near Barcelona, while storms disrupted flights at Ibiza airport and prompted red alerts in parts of Valencia and Alicante. Foreign Relations: Spain offered Moldova support on justice reform, including magistrate training, court digitalisation and anti-corruption work. Politics: Madrid’s plan to regularise 600,000 migrants has drawn criticism from Denmark and calls for EU coordination; meanwhile, left-wing parties remain divided ahead of November’s election. Football: Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice, to move within six points of Barcelona before El Clásico. The club also demanded LaLiga president Javier Tebas resign over his comparison of its media strategy to Nazi propaganda.

Storm Emergency: Red alerts for torrential rain hit Valencia and parts of the Balearics as Storm Adam brought more than 200mm of rain to some areas; a woman died in Catalonia. Election Divide: Spain’s left-wing parties failed to agree on a broad alliance ahead of the November 29 election, risking a split vote that could complicate Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s bid to stay in power. Migration Dispute: Sánchez’s plan to legalise about 600,000 migrants drew pushback from Denmark, Italy and Poland at an EU summit, exposing sharp divisions over national policy and its effects across the bloc. FIFA Sanction: FIFA fined Spain $20,000 and ordered 15% of a stadium closed after Islamophobic chants at a match against Egypt. EU Borders: Spain and Italy agreed to work toward ending temporary border checks, a step toward restoring freer travel between the two countries.

Wildfires: Fires west of Madrid have forced 35,000 people from their homes. Pedro Sánchez warned of a difficult fight ahead as strong winds threatened the effort to protect residents and settlements. Madrid: Sol metro station reopened after tests found safe conditions, following a closure over ammonia linked to waste in ventilation shafts near a housing protest camp. EU Tensions: Spain defended its plan to regularise about 600,000 migrants after Denmark, Italy and Poland challenged it at a Brussels summit; Denmark urged the European Commission to examine its effects. Election Politics: Spain’s hard-left parties will run separately in the November 29 snap election after alliance talks collapsed, risking a divided vote. Football and Discrimination: FIFA fined Spain €18,000 and ordered a partial stadium closure over Islamophobic chants at a match against Egypt; the Spanish federation plans to appeal. European Relations: Montenegro aims to conclude EU accession talks by year-end, but membership still requires reforms and approval from all member states, including Spain.

Election Tensions: Spain’s hard-left parties will run separately in much of the November 29 snap election after unity talks collapsed, a split that could cost them seats and weaken Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition. Football Fallout: FIFA fined Spain’s football federation €18,000 and ordered a partial stadium closure after Islamophobic chants at a friendly against Egypt; the federation plans to appeal. Separately, Spain’s Higher Sports Council urged La Liga chief Javier Tebas to apologise to Real Madrid for comparing its media tactics to Nazi propaganda. Weather Alert: Aemet issued a red warning for parts of Almería, forecasting up to 100mm of rain in 12 hours, as Andalucía activated its flood emergency plan. Foreign Relations: Madrid and Rome agreed to work toward ending border checks imposed after the Ceuta crisis, while King Felipe VI’s recent visit to Ceuta and Melilla reaffirmed Spanish sovereignty amid tensions with Morocco.

Football Row: Real Madrid has demanded La Liga chief Javier Tebas resign after he likened the club’s media tactics to Nazi propaganda methods; Tebas said he was comparing techniques, not ideology. Anti-Discrimination: FIFA fined Spain $20,000 and ordered a partial stadium closure—or designated community seating—at its next men’s friendly over Islamophobic chants during a match against Egypt. Migration Dispute: At the EU summit, Pedro Sánchez rejected criticism of Spain’s migration policy as Denmark urged the bloc to scrutinise Madrid’s plan to regularise migrants. Border Talks: Spain and Italy agreed to work toward ending checks imposed after a crisis around Ceuta, with Italy extending the controls briefly while preparations continue. Morocco Relations: Sánchez reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to constructive ties with Morocco after King Felipe VI’s visit to Ceuta, where he stressed Spanish sovereignty as migration tensions remain in focus.

Football Governance: Real Madrid demanded LaLiga president Javier Tebas resign after he compared the club’s media tactics to Nazi propaganda; Tebas stood by his criticism, deepening a long-running feud. Border Relations: Spain and Italy plan to end temporary checks on travel between them, imposed after the Ceuta migration crisis, though checks remain in place for now. Madrid has also faced renewed tension with Morocco over the enclave, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for constructive ties. Housing Protests: Madrid’s Sol Metro station closed amid a dispute over sanitation at a housing protest camp. Demonstrators are demanding rent controls and eviction protections after tenant Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was evicted and later died in hospital. Public Education: Madrid teachers entered a third day of strikes, seeking better conditions and more resources; unions and the regional government gave sharply different estimates of participation. Football Discrimination: FIFA fined Spain $20,000 and ordered a partial stadium closure over anti-Muslim chants during a friendly against Egypt.

Election Watch: Spain’s electoral board has opened proceedings against Pedro Sánchez over campaign-period housing remarks, ordering them removed from official channels; a fine is possible ahead of the Nov. 29 election. Ceuta and Morocco: King Felipe VI’s visit underscored Spain’s claim to Ceuta and Melilla amid reports of Moroccan warships near Ceuta. Sánchez has also reaffirmed his commitment to constructive ties with Morocco. EU Climate Policy: Spain backed the bloc’s carbon market as leaders agreed to review its design and safeguards, but dropped a proposed delay to the planned extension to heating and transport fuels. Housing: A €400 million Culmia–Cross Ocean venture will target 900 homes in Madrid, as housing shortages remain a central election issue. Diplomacy: Spain and Qatar reaffirmed closer cooperation and support for international law, peaceful conflict resolution and sustainable development.