Stories from Madrid · Spain

Banks in Spain significantly tightened criteria for accessing credit during the first quarter of 2026. A study by the Bank of Spain confirmed these more complicated lending conditions. The findings were released in the quarterly bank lending survey. The report indicates that the start of 2026 has brought increased complications for credit access. The number of loans requested during the first three months of 2026 has decreased across all sectors. Interest rates and terms remain largely unchanged, though mortgage costs have increased slightly. The decline in loan volume is noted as a trend for the current year. Banks in the Eurozone are tightening lending requirements due to risks associated with the Iran-related conflict. The European Central Bank reports that rising energy prices are making financial institutions less willing to take risks.

Spain's active population has reached a milestone, surpassing 25 million people according to EPA data. The country has a total population of nearly 50 million. Employment rates have also reached a new historical high following an increase of 5.32 percent.

Spain's unemployment rate has risen to nearly 11 percent. The current labor market situation was described as. This represents the worst first quarter recorded in the last 13 years. Despite these figures, the organization Caritas reported that nearly 15,000 vulnerable people found employment in 2025. According to the report, approximately one in four people supported by Caritas successfully secure jobs through their professional orientation programs. The country saw a reduction of 230,000 unemployed individuals in the last three months. The report also noted economic conditions in Germany regarding energy production and coal usage. Spain's unemployment figure has fallen to 2.4 million people, marking the lowest level in 18 years. The country has added more than half a million jobs over the last year, bringing the total number of workers to over 22 million.

Chinese automaker FAW Hongqi is in discussions with Stellantis to utilize a Spanish manufacturing plant. The move is intended to accelerate the brand's expansion within the European market.

Amazon is requiring sellers to provide original copyright holder documentation or a security deposit to obtain verification badges. The security deposit is set at 3% of the seller's brand turnover on Amazon over the last year. If a product is found to be counterfeit, Amazon will remove it from sale and retain the security deposit. These measures follow recent antitrust claims regarding the use of verification badges. Anton Lesnikov of the Amazon press service was contacted for comment regarding seller issues with badge acquisition. Sellers report that marketplaces are increasingly adopting strict tools to manage legal risks, including lawsuits and documentation issues related to counterfeiting. Business representatives noted that the prevalence of Chinese counterfeit products makes it easier for platforms to use automated tools rather than investigating individual cases.

The retailer El Corte Inglés is reviewing its strategic investment plan to accelerate growth.

Guardia Civil agents stated that a businessman paid a salary to a former minister and advisor to form a criminal organization. The report follows recent disclosures regarding political implications involving the PSOE and Bildu. Files were reportedly sent to suggest attacks against Judge Peinado in Congress.

A new law in Spain requires mutual consent for sexual encounters, defining sex without it as rape punishable by up to 15 years in prison. However, the law has caused an unintended side effect where numerous sexual offenders have received sentence reductions or early release. The law removed the previous requirement for victims to prove they had said no, resisted, or cried. Under the law, sex is only considered consensual with mutual agreement, and lack of consent can lead to up to 15 years of imprisonment. A Spanish law has led to reduced sentences for certain offenses. The error occurred because the judge used artificial intelligence to assist in writing the ruling.

Sociologist Renzo Carriero reported that 99.53% of Spanish families continue to use the father's surname as the primary name. Although Spanish law has allowed parents to choose the order of surnames since 1999, the traditional father-mother order remains dominant. This follows a trend observed in studies conducted in Turin regarding surname usage. The study notes that in 99% of cases, the order follows the paternal lineage.

The Spanish club Albas faces potential sanctions from FIFA that could include a two-year ban on signing new players. The club may also be required to pay over 1 million euros to a Cameroonian club if non-payment issues are not resolved. Failure to comply could result in the club being relegated to the third or fourth division. The club could be barred from signing players during a transfer window for up to two years. Additionally, Albas may be required to pay over one million euros to Cameroonet.