Politics · Spain · 1 hr ago
Thousands of students protest Vito Quiles’s planned Bilbao event
Thousands of students marched through Bilbao on Monday to protest a planned event by Vito Quiles, a far-right agitator.
Student groups organised the march, which began at Plaza Elíptica and ended near the Deusto bridge.
They described Quiles’s visit as a provocation and called for opposition to far-right politics.
One student union spokesperson said the event could divert attention from housing and workers’ concerns.
The University of Deusto suspended its activities for the afternoon because of fears of possible unrest.
Basque universities minister Juan Ignacio Pérez Iglesias said he did not consider the university’s decision correct.
Quiles said he might cancel his event over safety concerns, while other protest gatherings were also planned in Deusto that afternoon.
Thousands of students marched through central Bilbao on Monday to protest against fascism and Vito Quiles’s planned event in the city.
The march began at Plaza Elíptica around noon and continued towards Deusto.
Student and social organisations also called for further protests in Deusto.
Quiles said on social media that he might cancel the event over safety concerns.
The University of Deusto suspended its activity that afternoon, while the Basque universities minister criticised the decision.
- Who
- Thousands of students, with student and social organisations involved.
- What
- They protested against fascism and Quiles’s planned event.
- When
- Monday, 26 October 2026; the main march began around noon.
- Where
- Bilbao, from Plaza Elíptica towards Deusto.
- Why
- The organisers said they opposed what they called an extreme-right provocation and wanted to promote an antifascist movement.
Student and social organisations
Vito Quiles
Reason for the event and protests
Student and social organisations
The organisations called Quiles’s planned appearance an extreme-right provocation and protested against it.
Vito Quiles
Quiles planned a political event in Bilbao; he said he might cancel it over safety concerns.
A student strike began across Bizkaia, according to Deia.
The march set off from Plaza Elíptica in Bilbao.
Further protest actions were called in Deusto, where Quiles planned to hold his event.
Deusto University suspended its activity amid fears of possible unrest.
- Protesters
- Several thousand students
- Starting point
- Plaza Elíptica, Bilbao
- March start
- Around 12:00 on 26 October 2026
- Student strike
- From 10:00 across Bizkaia
- Planned event location
- Deusto
- University action
- Deusto suspended its activity that afternoon
4 sources
Miles de estudiantes se manifiestan contra el fascismo y el acto de Vito Quiles en Bilbao
La visita de Vito Quiles moviliza al movimiento estudiantil y a organizaciones sociales en Bilbao
El consejero de Universidades no ve «correcta» la decisión de Deusto de suspender su actividad por el acto de Vito Quiles
La Universidad de Deusto suspende su actividad en Bilbao por temor a incidentes en el acto de Vito Quiles
What people are saying
We are thousands and thousands of young people and students in the streets of Bilbao, against far-right, fascist and hate speech
provoke
not correct