Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago

Spain marks National Day ahead of elections and royal visits to Ceuta and Melilla

Spain marks National Day ahead of elections and royal visits to Ceuta and Melilla

Spain’s National Day is being marked in Madrid with King Felipe VI presiding over the annual military parade.

The event comes shortly before a general election scheduled for November 29.

A housing protest camp has been in place at Puerta del Sol for two weeks, reflecting public anger over the housing crisis.

The royals have also invited representatives of civil society from Ceuta and Melilla, in solidarity with the cities after a large migrant arrival in Ceuta in July.

Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are due to visit Ceuta on October 13 and Melilla on October 14.

It will be their first official visit to both cities as king and queen, and the first visit by a Spanish monarch there since Juan Carlos I travelled in 2007.

The visits and the parade come amid political debate and public concern over housing and the border situation.

Sources

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