The decision by more than half of the parliamentary parties not to take part in the annual commemoration of the 1978 Constitution highlights the degree of detachment in Spanish political life and signals a break with the institutional balances that previously characterized these events. As Europa Press reports, the anniversary of this December 6, which took place in the Hall of Lost Steps of the Congress of Deputies, was marked by the absence of political formations such as Esquerra Republicana, Bildu, PNV, BNG and Junts, as well as representatives of Vox and the main leaders of Podemos, who shifted their activities to the regional election campaign in Extremadura. The event was attended mainly by institutional representatives of the PSOE and the Popular Party, as well as authorities, chamber presidents, military commanders and Ibero-American parliamentary representatives.
Europa Press explained that the ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the Carrera de San Jerónimo with the raising of the flag and the interpretation of the national anthem, marking the start of the day’s protocol activities. The President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, presided over the event, which included the traditional reading of articles of the Constitution, carried out by primary school students from several European countries, keeping the institutional ceremony alive despite the adverse context. According to the media, this edition reflects an unprecedented break in the political scene and a significant change in the consensus that traditionally accompanied the commemoration of the constitutional text.
According to information from Europa Press, the absence of so many factions is due to an increasing polarization process in recent months. According to media, among the recent events that characterize the tense environment of the Parliament are the crisis in the management of breast cancer screening in Andalusia, the resignation of Carlos Mazón as President of the Valencian Government after the events related to the DANA of 2024 and the advance of the elections in Extremadura due to the collapse of the coalition between the Popular Party and Vox. All of these recent events are increasing the distance between the main political actors and making overarching agreements that were previously common at important dates in national politics impossible.
Europa Press also reported that the situation in Congress is complicated by ongoing judicial investigations involving key figures in Spain’s Socialist Workers’ Party and people close to the government’s presidency. In this context, the so-called “Koldo case” stands out, which involved the arrest of the former organizing secretaries of the PSOE, José Luis Ábalos and Santos Cerdán, as well as the former advisor Koldo García. Although Santos Cerdán regained his freedom, the investigation is still ongoing and raises internal and external questions about the direction of Pedro Sánchez as general secretary of the party and head of the executive branch. This case, as Europa Press points out, contributes to the perception of a crisis and institutional destabilization within the socialist ranks.
Another event cited by Europa Press that has a direct impact on political tensions is the disqualification of Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz. This is the result of an order of the Supreme Court following the disclosure of confidential data in a file concerning the businessman Alberto González Amador, partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid. The executive response to the judicial action combined the formal recognition of the verdict with the public defense of García Ortiz’s innocence and condemned the existence of a “lawfare” strategy, which refers to the use of the judicial system as an instrument of political confrontation. These institutional tensions complement a number of factors that influence the parties’ attitude towards the constitutional anniversary and the willingness of some of them to officially boycott the planned events.
According to Europa Press, Vox justified its absence by saying that it would only take part in events where it could express its opposition to the government, to which it attributes illegal and corrupt practices. Meanwhile, Podemos’ main leaders decided to participate in the regional campaign in Extremadura and physically withdraw from institutional events in protest against the current political climate. Pro-independence and nationalist parties who did not attend the ceremony claimed they disagreed with the development of the political and legal system, further increasing the fragmentation of parliament.
The confrontation between the powers of the state and parliamentary bodies is reflected in the ongoing dispute between the Congress, controlled by the progressive bloc, and a Senate with an absolute majority of the People’s Party, according to Europa Press. This struggle leads to constant power conflicts and deadlocks in legislative cooperation, which significantly limits the ability of both chambers to reach agreements and enact effective laws. Disagreements have intensified since the failure of the investiture agreement between the executive and Junts, a party led by Carles Puigdemont, which recently expressed its rejection of the fiscal deficit path proposed by the central government. According to Europa Press, this disagreement threatens the viability of the legislature and risks repeated parliamentary deadlocks, despite the government’s attempts to negotiate financial stability formulas.
Europa Press pointed out that despite the controversies and absences, the Congress is maintaining the open days planned for December 12 and 13, encouraging citizens to visit representative spaces such as the Chamber and other prominent places in the Palace of Parliament. These activities aim to maintain the connection between citizens and the legislative institution, even when political tensions are higher than in other recent periods.
The current celebration of the 1978 Constitution, originally intended as a symbol of unity and democratic reconciliation, reveals serious challenges to institutional coexistence, as Europa Press explains. The prevailing environment is characterized by a distancing between political actors, in which litigation, internal disputes and confrontations between state authorities hindered the development of consensus and kept national politics in a state of constant litigation and fragmentation. This year’s event, with a reduced call and the background of several open crises, reflects, in the words of Europa Press, a situation of representativeness and polarization crisis that characterizes the current and immediate future of the Spanish political and parliamentary system.
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