Stories from Madrid · Spain

The Vox political party has proposed a non-legislative motion to condition access to public services on years of social security contributions. The proposal seeks to eliminate universal healthcare and create databases tracking healthcare spending for migrants. While current regional pacts with the PP party limit national priorities to social aid and housing, Vox intends to expand these priorities to include healthcare. Popular Party sources stated that assuming this priority in healthcare would differ from existing agreements. Additionally, the party suggests creating databases to track healthcare spending specifically allocated to migrants.

Carles Jun denied possible support for the government's housing decree yesterday. The move follows a period where the Sumar coalition had not entirely closed the door on the legislation. The decree's potential failure follows internal friction between the PSOE and Sumar parties. Sumar members expressed dissatisfaction with the PSOE, alleging insufficient involvement in the negotiations. The Spanish government is currently working to secure the necessary votes to validate the royal decree-law on housing. The text is intended to represent both coalition parties, though Sumar has expressed dissatisfaction with the PSOE's level of involvement in negotiations. The Spanish Congress is also scheduled to debate a proposal from the Vox party this week.

The UCO reports that businessman Aldama acted as the true leader of a criminal organization by paying both a minister and his advisor to secure contracts. According to agents, the minister and his advisor complied with Aldama's demands without resistance. The investigation suggests the influence reached levels including obtaining approval from the President of the Government. The scheme also reportedly involved facilitating the travel of Delcy Rodríguez to Spain to reassure European lawyers. Businessman Victor del Álamo testified for eight hours at the Supreme Court on Wednesday regarding corruption allegations. Del Álamo claimed he provided a monthly allowance of 10,000 euros to Minister Ávalos for various expenses. These details were part of his testimony in the Spanish mask corruption trial.

Beatriz Corredor, president of Red Eléctrica, attributed current energy issues to private energy companies. Corredor cited environmental fanaticism and the demonization of nuclear and gas energy as contributing factors. The commentator noted that under the Sánchez government, political responsibility is often directed at the private sector rather than the government. He questioned why 2,000 million euros were spent to reinforce system stability while consumer bills continued to rise. The president suggested that firms are implicitly acknowledging fault without making a formal confession.

UCO Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Balas identified Víctor de Aldama as the head of a corruption network in a recent statement. Balas clarified that former minister José Luis Ávalos was also part of the leadership group. The officer noted that Ávalos directed payments to individuals such as Claudia.

Data from the National Statistics Institute shows half of young people in Spain are unable to pay for an apartment. The data shows a growing distrust in democracy among the youth population. There is also a noted shift toward right-wing politics and a declining interest in gender equality and ecological concerns. This suggests a generational and ideological rupture within the country. Four out of ten young Spaniards consider religion to be very, according to a recent report from the SM Foundation. The report highlights a growth in Catholicism among young people compared to adults. This trend shows a less polarized religious landscape among the youth demographic. The findings were discussed in a report released by the foundation. A portion of Spanish households, particularly those with lower incomes, dedicate over 70% of their earnings to rent, leading to financial strain.

The city has issued 3.3 million fines under the contested regulation. The Madrid City Council confirmed it will not collect fines that are currently under appeal. Individuals who already paid without appealing must likely initiate a long and technical review process to seek refunds. One traveler, Thibault, reported a potential 5,000 euro saving by canceling a planned 12-day trip. The traveler and his partner are opting for a more modest one-week trip within France instead. Other airlines mentioned in relation to these refund processes include Ryanair and Volotea.

Real Madrid issued a statement confirming Kylian Mbappé has sustained a left thigh injury. The club did not specify the expected duration of his unavailability. The injury comes approximately six weeks before the World Cup. The injury is expected to require several days of rest. He is anticipated to return for the upcoming El Clásico match against Barcelona in Barcelona. The player previously participated in the 2018 World Cup as a champion with France and the 2022 World Cup as a runner-up. The injury involves the semi-tendinous muscle of his left leg.

Tennis player Danil Medvedev advanced to the final of the fourth season of the Masters 1000 series in Madrid. The final of the Polish Cup will feature Gornik Zabrze against Rakow Czestochowa at the National Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 PM. This could be Gornik's seventh triumph in the competition's history, while it might be Rakow's third Polish Cup. This is her main match of the year, and she has won two previous tournaments in the past year. The final has a prize fund exceeding 8 million euros. She previously won titles in Doha and Linz. 19-year-old Andreeva has reached the final of the Madrid tournament for the third time this season. Tennis commentator Evgeny Fedikov of Kommersant assessed her chances. Alexander Zverev defeated his opponent in Madrid after converting his first match point, winning 6-2 and 7-5.

The Bloomberg City Lab summit is currently taking place in Madrid, Spain. These families were protesting upcoming evictions. The summit brings together global city officials and mayors to discuss urban issues including sustainability, education, and housing. Artificial intelligence is a primary theme of the exchange. London Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke Tuesday morning at the launch of the mayor's AI initiative. The suspect reportedly bypassed security controls to access a dining room where a dinner was being held. The individual was armed with a long gun, a pistol, and several knives. Secret service forces intercepted the suspect at the security point. Three shots were heard during the incident, and the area was evacuated. The forum was established by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with Johns Hopkins University.