Politics · Spain · 1 day ago
Abascal to skip Spain’s 12 October ceremony and visit Ceuta
Spain’s National Day is marked on 12 October with a military parade in Madrid, presided over by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal will not attend the parade or the reception at the Royal Palace for the second year in a row.
Last year, he watched the parade from the street, but this time he plans to travel to Ceuta.
Abascal says he will not share a platform with the government, which he accuses of betraying Spain.
His visit comes as Spain prepares for a general election scheduled for 29 November, about seven weeks after the ceremony.
The parade is one of the country’s main official events, and several regional leaders and political representatives are expected to attend.
Other parties, including Catalan and Basque independence parties and Podemos, are also expected to be absent.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal will skip Spain’s 12 October military parade and the reception at the Royal Palace.
He plans to mark the National Day in Ceuta, accompanied by Jordan Bardella, according to 20minutos.
Abascal said he would not attend an event alongside what he called a government that had betrayed Spain.
This will be his second consecutive year absent from the central ceremony.
The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Madrid, with 4,380 participants from the armed forces, security forces and civilian institutions.
- Who
- Vox leader Santiago Abascal will be absent. Jordan Bardella is expected to accompany him in Ceuta.
- What
- Abascal will skip the 12 October military parade and the reception at the Royal Palace.
- When
- 12 October 2026.
- Where
- The parade is in Madrid; Abascal plans to visit Ceuta.
- Why
- Abascal said he would not attend an event alongside a government he accused of betraying Spain.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
El 12 de octubre no estaré en ninguna tribuna con un Gobierno mafioso que ha traicionado a España y que ha dejado parte de nuestro territorio nacional invadido
El 12 de octubre es una fiesta de unión, de hermanamiento, en la que mostramos, además, nuestro vínculo con la comunidad internacional
Abascal skipped the institutional ceremony and watched the parade from the street near Plaza de Colón.
El Mundo reported that Abascal had announced he would travel to Ceuta for the National Day.
The military parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Madrid.
- Abascal
- Vox leader
- Date
- 12 October 2026
- Destination
- Ceuta
- Companion
- Jordan Bardella, leader of France’s National Rally
- Parade start
- 11 a.m.
- Participants
- 4,380 people from the armed forces, security forces and civilian institutions
Sources
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