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18.02.2026

The Day of Marlaska's Shielding

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This page is an archive of main headlines from Spain for 18.02.2026.

It displays 112 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

18.02.2026The Day of Marlaska's Shielding
The media cycle on February 18 was dominated by the deepening crisis within the Ministry of Interior following the sexual assault allegations against the National Police’s former Operational Director. Morning coverage focused on Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska’s defense in Congress, where he claimed ignorance of the charges and dismissed the former chief’s 'number two' for allegedly coercing the victim. Conservative outlets like Libertad Digital and El Mundo emphasized the opposition's calls for resignation, while progressive media highlighted the Minister’s offer to quit only if requested by the victim.
By early afternoon, editorial priority shifted to President Pedro Sánchez’s explicit defense of Marlaska during a tense control session, framing the government's response as 'decisive.' Simultaneously, regional headlines followed the collapse of Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s cabinet in Madrid after further dismissals in the education department. Late evening reports introduced a new strategic shift as Gabriel Rufián proposed a unified left-wing electoral front to counter Vox.
18.02.2026
00:13
06:02
20 Minutos

Un mes de Adamuz: parón en la investigación sobre las causas y con la línea de AVE a medio gas

06:02 (05:02 in your timezone)
06:02

06:58 (05:58)The Cracks in Ayuso's Fortress

Spanish media is dominated by the sudden collapse of Isabel Díaz Ayuso's regional government in Madrid following the resignation of three deputies and the dismissal of her education counselor (El País, eldiario.es, El Salto). Concurrently, the resignation of the National Police's operational chief due to sexual assault allegations remains a primary focus (RTVE, El Plural). Outlets like El Español and El Mundo highlight alleged internal corruption within the PSOE and Vox respectively.
07:15
07:49
20 Minutos

Parón en la investigación: ni la Guardia Civil ni la CIAF han podido acceder a las cajas negras

07:49 (06:49 in your timezone)
07:49
08:15
20 Minutos

La presunta víctima del exdirector operativo de la Policía está "aterrorizada" y su abogado dice que la intentaron comprar

08:15 (07:15 in your timezone)
08:29
20 Minutos

La presunta víctima del exdirector está "aterrorizada" y su abogado dice que intentaron comprar su silencio

08:29 (07:29 in your timezone)
08:57

09:12 (08:12)The Police Chief's Shamed Exit

Spanish editors are prioritizing the escalating fallout within the Ministry of Interior following the resignation of the National Police's operational chief over sexual assault charges (RTVE, 20minutos). While Minister Marlaska refuses to step down (Libertad Digital), the focus on institutional integrity is compounded by reports of irregular internal voting within Vox (El Mundo) and the ongoing collapse of Ayuso’s regional cabinet in Madrid (El País, eldiario.es).
09:18
09:47
09:55
09:55
10:02
20 Minutos

El DAO premió con una medalla a su asesor apenas meses después de la supuesta agresión sexual

10:02 (09:02 in your timezone)
10:09
10:15
20 Minutos

El DAO premió con una medalla a su asesor meses después de la agresión que denuncia la víctima

10:15 (09:15 in your timezone)

10:25 (09:25)Marlaska's Shield and the Police Scandal

The editorial focus has shifted to Minister Marlaska's defensive stance regarding the sexual assault allegations against the former National Police chief. While most outlets report on the dismissal of the chief's 'number two' and Marlaska's claims of ignorance (RTVE, El Mundo, El País, eldiario.es, El Periódico), La Razón highlights a potential resignation. Concurrently, El Español continues its coverage of alleged primary rigging within the PSOE.
10:30
10:31
10:38
10:45
11:56
12:39
20 Minutos

El DAO premió con una medalla a su asesor después de su presunto intento de silenciar a la víctima

12:39 (11:39 in your timezone)
12:49

12:50 (11:50)Marlaska's Resignation Gambit

Spanish editors are now focusing on the political survival of Interior Minister Marlaska. While he denies knowledge of the sexual assault allegations against the former National Police chief, the dismissal of another high-ranking officer for allegedly coercing the victim has intensified the crisis (RTVE, 20minutos, El País, eldiario.es). Conservative outlets emphasize the opposition's accusations of a cover-up and the potential legal dissolution of the PSOE (Libertad Digital, Público).
13:07
13:07
13:50
14:18

14:20 (13:20)The President's Human Shield

Pedro Sánchez has now moved to explicitly shield Interior Minister Marlaska, praising his 'decisiveness' following the dismissal of a second high-ranking police official for allegedly coercing a sexual assault victim (RTVE, La Vanguardia, El Mundo, El Periódico, El Español). While the opposition demands resignations, the Ministry insists on its ignorance of the initial crimes. Simultaneously, regional instability continues as Ayuso executes further dismissals in Madrid's education department (El Plural).
14:25
14:41
20 Minutos

Sánchez cierra filas con Marlaska y pide investigar la denuncia contra el DAO "hasta el final" y "con todas las consecuencias"

14:41 (13:41 in your timezone)
15:24
15:56
15:57
16:04

16:29 (15:29)Marlaska's Resignation Gambit

The media focuses on the Ministry of Interior's crisis following the dismissal of the National Police's operational chief and his deputy. Pedro Sánchez has publicly defended Minister Marlaska's 'decisiveness,' while Marlaska denies knowledge of the sexual assault allegations and offers his resignation only if the victim requests it (RTVE, La Vanguardia, 20minutos, El País, El Mundo, eldiario.es, El Español, La Razón).
17:08
17:52
20 Minutos

Sánchez cierra filas con Marlaska y pide investigar la denuncia contra el DAO "hasta el final"

17:52 (16:52 in your timezone)
18:07
18:33
19:23

20:00 (19:00)The Minister’s Shaking Shield

The Spanish media remains fixated on the Ministry of Interior's crisis following sexual assault allegations against the former National Police chief. While Minister Marlaska claims ignorance and Pedro Sánchez defends the government's 'contundencia,' the dismissal of another commissioner for alleged victim coercion has deepened the scandal (RTVE, La Vanguardia, 20minutos, El País, El Mundo). Concurrently, Gabriel Rufián’s proposal for a unified left-wing electoral strategy per province is gaining traction (Público, infoLibre, El Confidencial).
20:08
20:24
20:24
21:02
21:06

21:08 (20:08)Marlaska's Embattled Shield

Editorial attention remains fixed on the Ministry of Interior's crisis as Minister Marlaska and President Sánchez defend the government's response to sexual assault allegations against the former police chief (RTVE, La Vanguardia, 20minutos, El País, eldiario.es). Simultaneously, a new coordinated proposal by Gabriel Rufián for a unified left-wing electoral strategy per province to combat the far-right has emerged as a major secondary focus (El Mundo, El Plural, El Confidencial, Público).
21:19
21:19
21:24
21:28
22:07
22:45

22:55 (21:55)The Left's Provincial Trench

Editorial focus is shifting toward a strategic realignment on the left, as Gabriel Rufián and Adriana Delgado propose a province-by-province electoral 'method' to consolidate votes against Vox (RTVE, La Marea, El Mundo, El Confidencial). Simultaneously, the internal crisis within Vox deepens following the cautionary expulsion of Javier Ortega Smith (El Plural), while the government maintains its defensive posture regarding the National Police sexual assault scandal (El País, La Vanguardia, eldiario.es).
23:01