May
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The day began with May Day protests dominating coverage, with unions demanding housing and wage improvements, and the central rally in Málaga coinciding with the start of the Andalucía election campaign. The Koldo trial continued, with Koldo denying all but friendship with Ábalos, while El Mundo reported his admission of 'chistorras' as 500-euro bills. By late afternoon, Trump escalated the trade war with the EU, announcing 25% tariffs on European cars and trucks, accusing the bloc of violating trade agreements. He also attacked Spain and Italy over Iran, claiming they accept a nuclear-armed Iran. The EU warned it would protect its interests. The US-Iran conflict continued: Trump rejected Iran's peace proposal and threatened destruction, while eldiario.es reported Trump told Congress the war is over to bypass authorization.
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The day was dominated by Trump's announcement to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany, deepening the rift with NATO and Europe. This story broke in the early morning and was covered by multiple outlets throughout the day, with Germany calling for Europe to bolster its own security. In parallel, Ayuso used Madrid's regional day (Dos de Mayo) to attack the government and Vox, defending her vision of Spanish identity, a secondary but persistent theme. A US House committee questioning Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla emerged in the afternoon, adding a new dimension to transatlantic tensions.
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The day was dominated by the Koldo case, with El Mundo revealing a tape where Koldo and Ábalos allegedly agree on a 5 million commission for the sale of Sepi's headquarters. Earlier, El Español reported Koldo lied to the Supreme Court about having Sánchez's personal number saved as 'Número 1'. In the morning, the Andalusian election campaign continued, with Feijóo attacking PSOE corruption over the ERE and Ábalos cases. By evening, Trump announced an operation to free ships blocked in Ormuz, and El Periódico detailed the economic impact of the war on Iran. The Barça women's team qualified for their sixth consecutive Champions League final with a 4-2 win over Bayern.
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The day was dominated by José Luis Ábalos's testimony before the Supreme Court in the masks case. In the morning, he claimed Jéssica Rodríguez was coerced and distanced himself from Koldo García, blaming Aldama for an 'impostura permanente'. By midday, he portrayed himself as a victim, insisting no money would be found. In the afternoon, a new audio emerged showing Koldo offering Ábalos €500,000 monthly from a Venezuelan oil company, and a recording of Ábalos having sex with two women. The PP reduced its penalty request for Aldama, potentially keeping him out of prison. Meanwhile, Iran-US tensions over Hormuz escalated: Iran claimed to have hit a US warship with missiles, Trump threatened to 'erase Iran from the face of the earth', and the ceasefire appeared to teeter.
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The day was dominated by the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Hondius, with conflicting statements between the WHO and Spanish health authorities about its destination. In the morning, the WHO said the ship would dock in the Canary Islands, but Sanidad denied any decision. By midday, an agreement was reached to send epidemiologists to inspect the ship. In the afternoon, Spain proposed evacuating infected passengers to the Netherlands and Germany to avoid a Canary Islands stop. By evening, Spain reversed course and agreed to host the ship in the Canaries after a WHO request. Meanwhile, the Ábalos trial continued with new recordings, and Atlético Madrid was eliminated from the Champions League by Arsenal amid refereeing controversy.
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The hantavirus cruise ship crisis dominated the day, with the MV Hondius heading to Tenerife after Spain agreed to host it following a WHO request. The Canary Islands president Clavijo rejected the docking and demanded an urgent meeting with Sánchez, creating a central-regional conflict. By evening, the ship was en route to Tenerife, with 14 Spanish passengers to be quarantined at Madrid's Gómez Ulla hospital. Three infected patients were evacuated to the Netherlands, and the WHO confirmed an eighth case in Switzerland. Meanwhile, the Ábalos corruption trial concluded with prosecutor Luzón delivering a forceful final report, calling the corruption 'demolishing' and arguing for a possible sentence reduction for Aldama. Luzón denied any deal with Aldama, while new details emerged about Ábalos meeting prostitutes during COVID lockdown.
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The hantavirus cruise ship crisis continued to dominate, with the Hondius anchoring off Tenerife without docking. Passengers were to be transferred by launch in protective gear. The WHO confirmed five positive cases, and Sanidad confirmed a deceased woman's body remained aboard. A global contact tracing effort was underway for 30 passengers who disembarked before the outbreak was detected. The government could force quarantine on the 14 Spanish passengers, but needed judicial authorization. The Ábalos corruption trial concluded with the defendant calling it an 'inquisitorial process'. A separate story involved a strike in early childhood schools, and Ayuso allegedly sabotaging relations with Mexico.
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The hantavirus crisis on the cruise ship Hondius intensified on May 8. In the morning, Sanidad insisted no Spanish passengers opposed quarantine, while experts warned transmission was easier than expected. By midday, a suspected case emerged in Alicante: a woman who had contact with a deceased passenger. In the afternoon, a second suspected case was confirmed in Catalonia, linked to the same flight. The government prepared a legal report to support quarantine protocols, and the WHO confirmed five cases. The ship's disembarkation plan involved zodiacs and direct buses to planes. Meanwhile, Ayuso canceled her Mexico trip, accusing the government of expulsion, and a US court ruled Trump's universal tariff illegal.
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The hantavirus crisis on the MV Hondius reached its climax on May 9. In the early morning, the ship arrived off Tenerife, and by late morning, the government confirmed Spanish passengers would be the first to disembark, with a court ratifying their quarantine. The operation involved zodiacs, buses, and direct flights to Madrid, with no civilian contact. By afternoon, the WHO director insisted this was not another COVID-19. Meanwhile, the funeral of two Guardia Civil officers killed in a narcolancha pursuit in Huelva sparked public anger, leaving Minister Montero isolated. A suspected case in Alicante tested negative, and a Catalan contact was quarantined at Hospital Clínic. The day ended with the ship preparing to dock at Granadilla port between 4-6 AM on May 10.
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The hantavirus crisis on the MV Hondius dominated the day, with the ship docking in Tenerife early morning after the central government overruled Canary Islands President Clavijo's refusal. By mid-morning, 14 Spanish passengers disembarked in protective gear and were flown to Madrid for quarantine at Gómez Ulla hospital, all asymptomatic. In the afternoon, France reported one of its five repatriated passengers showed symptoms. Political tensions persisted, with Ayuso criticizing Moncloa's coordination. By evening, 94 passengers had been evacuated. Meanwhile, Barça's 2-0 Clásico victory over Real Madrid secured the LaLiga title, dominating sports coverage.
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The hantavirus crisis on the MV Hondius continued to dominate the day. In the morning, the 14 Spanish passengers remained in quarantine at Gómez Ulla hospital, all asymptomatic, awaiting PCR results. By mid-morning, France and the US confirmed positive cases among repatriated passengers. Around noon, Sanidad announced the quarantine would count from May 6 and last 42 days. In the early afternoon, the ship docked at Granadilla port due to bad weather, disembarking all remaining passengers who then flew to the Netherlands. By evening, a Spanish passenger tested positive in a preliminary PCR, the first confirmed case in Spain. The patient is asymptomatic. The ship departed for the Netherlands.
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The hantavirus crisis continued to dominate, with the Spanish patient at Gómez Ulla hospital developing symptoms (fever, respiratory difficulties) and a second PCR confirming the infection. WHO and Sánchez praised the Hondius evacuation as a success, but warned the crisis was not over. Political blame escalated: Canary Islands President Clavijo accused the government of hiding cases, while Ayuso claimed abandonment in Mexico. In the afternoon, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez called an urgent press conference, denouncing a conspiracy against him and announcing early elections, vowing not to resign. The day also saw massive teacher strikes in Catalonia and new judicial investigations targeting Zapatero for money laundering.
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The day was dominated by two major stories. In the morning, Interior Minister Marlaska was booed at a Guardia Civil ceremony while expressing anger over two agents' deaths in Huelva, sparking political crossfire: PP questioned the lack of aerial resources, PSOE blocked recognition of Guardia Civil as a risk profession, and Manos Limpias filed a criminal complaint against Marlaska for negligent homicide. Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez continued to dominate coverage, denouncing a conspiracy and calling early elections, with Enrique Riquelme emerging as a potential rival. The hantavirus crisis persisted with a severe case in France and political blame between Torres and Clavijo. Congress suspended accreditation of far-right agitators Vito Quiles and Bertrand Ndongo. Trump landed in China for a summit with Xi.
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The Trump-Xi summit in Beijing dominated the day, with multiple outlets covering Xi's warning that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflict. Trump claimed Xi offered to help with Iran and not send military aid. Meanwhile, the Spanish electoral board forced PSOE to modify its phone campaign on healthcare, accusing it of confusion. The British health minister resigned to challenge Starmer. In the evening, Real Madrid fans booed Mbappé at the Bernabéu during a match against Oviedo.
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The day was dominated by two parallel stories. The Trump-Xi summit in Beijing continued to generate headlines, with Trump claiming Xi shares his view on Iran and warning against Taiwan independence. Multiple outlets covered Xi's planned US visit in autumn. Meanwhile, the Andalusia election campaign closed with PP's Juanma Moreno warning of chaos without an absolute majority, while PSOE's Sánchez and Montero rallied. Polls suggested PP may achieve an absolute majority, with PSOE facing historic lows. In the UK, Labour's internal crisis deepened with Health Minister Wes Streeting resigning to challenge Starmer. The day also saw Sánchez become the second longest-serving democratic president, surpassing Aznar.
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The day began with the tragic discovery of a Guardia Civil officer, his wife, and son dead at the Dolores barracks, dominating mid-morning coverage. This event overshadowed the final stretch of the Andalusia election campaign, where PP's Juanma Moreno sought an absolute majority against PSOE's Montero, tied to Sánchez. Multiple outlets covered the campaign's key battlegrounds and hidden polls shocking the PSOE. In the evening, Eurovision's final took center stage, with RTVE issuing a human rights message before the show, while Spain boycotted due to Israel's participation. Finland, Bulgaria, and Australia were highlighted as contenders. The housing crisis also saw coverage with record overcrowding.
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The day was dominated by the Andalusia election, with morning coverage focused on voter turnout, which started slightly lower than 2022 but surged to over 52% by 18:00, seven points higher. Exit polls at 18:00 predicted PP's Juanma Moreno would revalidate an absolute majority and PSOE would hit a historic low. However, as the count progressed, PP fell short of the absolute majority, settling at 53 seats, two short, while PSOE sank to 28 seats. Vox, with 15 seats, became the kingmaker. The Eurovision final, won by Bulgaria over Israel, was overshadowed by the election, though RTVE's repeated human rights message before the contest stood out as a secondary editorial priority.
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The day after the Andalusia elections, the dominant story was PP's Juanma Moreno insisting he could govern alone despite losing his absolute majority. Throughout the day, multiple outlets reported Moreno's claim that the result was 'contundente' enough for a solo government, warning Vox against seeking cabinet positions. By late morning, Moreno explicitly stated he would govern 'in solitario' with agreements, not a coalition. Feijóo launched his general election campaign, framing the Andalusia result as a step toward national change. PSOE faced internal turmoil, with regional leaders demanding explanations from Montero after the party's historic low of 28 seats. Adelante Andalucía's surge was analyzed as a left-wing success story. In Catalonia, ERC approved Illa's budgets, a separate development.
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The day was overwhelmingly dominated by the indictment of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in the Plus Ultra case. Early morning headlines from El País, El Mundo, and others reported that the Audiencia Nacional had charged him with money laundering, influence peddling, and criminal organization. By mid-morning, details emerged that a judge accused Zapatero of leading a 'structured' influence-peddling network and ordering the creation of a Dubai company to receive commissions. Leaked conversations published by eldiario.es and La Vanguardia in the afternoon showed alleged references to 'our friend Zapatero behind it.' The story overshadowed the Andalusia election aftermath and other news like Jonathan Andic's arrest for his father's death. PSOE called for calm, while PP demanded Sánchez's explanation.
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The day was dominated by the political fallout from the Plus Ultra case. In the morning, the Audiencia Nacional's indictment of former Prime Minister Zapatero for leading an influence-peddling network was the sole focus, with new details emerging about a Dubai offshore company, €2 million in commissions, and the role of his daughters. During the congressional control session, Sánchez closed ranks with Zapatero, offering 'all my support' and invoking presumption of innocence, while Feijóo demanded his resignation, accusing Sánchez of enabling corruption. By afternoon, media analyzed the damage: El Confidencial described Sánchez as 'knocked out' by Zapatero's embrace. Later, new revelations showed Zapatero allegedly orchestrated oil operations from the president's office with Delcy and the Chinese Communist Party, and that Plus Ultra 'fudged' its accounts with loans from Panama and Dominica.
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The day was overwhelmingly dominated by the judicial escalation against former Prime Minister Zapatero. In the morning, new details emerged: a company with losses paid over €500,000 to his daughters' firm (El País), and the judge investigated a €1.2 million payment through a Chinese think tank (Libertad Digital). By early afternoon, the Audiencia Nacional blocked Zapatero's bank accounts up to €490,780 (El Mundo, Público, La Vanguardia, El Periódico, 20minutos, El Español, eldiario.es, RTVE). Later, El Periódico reported that the network allegedly agreed a 3% commission for the Hard Rock complex in Tarragona. Sánchez maintained support for Zapatero, while PP called his secretary and former minister Escrivá to testify in the Senate. The story overshadowed other news, including housing pacts and the trial of climate activists.
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The Zapatero case continued to dominate, with new revelations emerging throughout the day. In the morning, Ábalos distanced himself from the Plus Ultra rescue and pointed to Zapatero, while details emerged that Zapatero and his wife shared a bank account that received over €1.5 million. By early afternoon, the judge kept secret a piece of the investigation on foreign money, and UDEF registries found a safe in Zapatero's office. Later, Felipe González expressed sadness over the investigation, and the judge opened a new line to trace money abroad. The PSOE faced internal division as Díaz demanded explanations while Bolaños reiterated confidence. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court rejected suspending migrant regularization, as requested by Ayuso and far-right groups.
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The Zapatero case continued to dominate, with new revelations throughout the day. In the morning, massive protests in Madrid demanded Sánchez's resignation, supported by PP and Vox. By early afternoon, a police report named Zapatero and his daughters as main beneficiaries of the Plus Ultra network, and showed Zapatero congratulated the network from his phone. In the evening, El Español revealed Zapatero met in Beijing with a Chinese Communist Party company that commissioned him to buy Venezuelan oil. Plus Ultra executives boasted of controlling the criminal case and discussed using contacts with the Prosecutor's Office to 'cut' the investigation. Trump claimed US and Iran are close to a deal. The Barça women's team won their fourth Champions League.
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The Zapatero case continued to dominate the news cycle throughout May 24. In the morning, new UDEF reports placed Zapatero at the 'cusp' of the network, identifying Julio Martínez as his front man and revealing that the Zapateros canceled a mortgage in 11 months with a €498,000 transfer. By early afternoon, El País reported a Miami account linked to a shell company in the Virgin Islands, and 20minutos attributed €4 million in payments to Zapatero and his daughters. Later, RTVE reported that Plus Ultra executives sought Zapatero's help due to his ties to Sánchez and Maduro. A poll showed 74.3% of Spaniards, including most PSOE voters, demand early elections. Meanwhile, US and Iran neared a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, receiving less coverage.
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The Zapatero case dominated the day with new police findings. In the morning, UDEF reports placed his home at the center of sensitive instructions and revealed a safe containing jewelry, watches, hard drives, and cash. By early afternoon, multiple outlets (El Mundo, El Español, El Confidencial, 20minutos) highlighted the discovery of gold bars and a stash of jewels in his Ferraz office safe. Later, El País reported the judge ordered access to Zapatero's and his daughters' emails since 2020. Libertad Digital noted an international arrest warrant for Rodolfo Reyes, linked to gold bars. Meanwhile, the Begoña Gómez case saw a split: progressive outlets (Público, eldiario.es) reported UCO found no opaque income, while conservative outlets (Libertad Digital, El Español) emphasized her alleged direct involvement in irregular hiring. Sánchez ruled out early elections.
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The Zapatero case continued to dominate editorial priorities, with the day's main development being his successful request to postpone his court appearance. From early morning, RTVE repeatedly led with the 4,000-page indictment. By mid-morning, multiple outlets reported Zapatero sought a delay due to the case's complexity. The judge granted the postponement, rescheduling for June 17-18. New details emerged: La Razón reported a lawyer hid €30,000 in a shoebox safe; El Confidencial linked an agenda to a Huawei contract; Público revealed Ayuso and Moreno Bonilla governments paid €192,000 to the network. El Periódico noted suspicions arose from a chat where Zapatero was called 'Z' or 'Zorro'. Feijóo called Spain the 'center of world corruption', while Page demanded immediate elections.
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The day was dominated by the UCO raid on PSOE headquarters in Ferraz, a dramatic escalation in the corruption investigations. Early morning headlines reported the Guardia Civil entering the party's seat over alleged illegal financing linked to Leire Díez and the SEPI case. By mid-morning, Judge Pedraz had imputed party secretary Santos Cerdán, former official Gaspar Zarrías, and the PSOE manager, while the operation expanded to the Guardia Civil's own headquarters. Sánchez, returning from a Vatican meeting, minimized the raid, reaffirmed support for Zapatero, and ruled out early elections. Afternoon reports detailed the judge's auto alleging the PSOE paid over 180,000 euros via fake invoices to destabilize judicial probes, tracing the plot to Sánchez's 'Carta a la Ciudadanía' after Begoña Gómez's imputation. The UCO remained in Ferraz for over 12 hours, with Feijóo calling the situation 'agonizing' and demanding immediate elections.
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The PSOE corruption scandal continued to dominate editorial priorities, with the day's central development being Pedro Sánchez's request to appear before Congress to address the multiple judicial cases. However, his appearance was deferred until late June, a delay highlighted across outlets from El Mundo to La Vanguardia.
The morning began with further details on the 'One' code name and the UCO raid on Ferraz, while the trial of David Sánchez, the prime minister's brother, opened with his lawyer seeking nullity and the prosecutor defending the judge's impartiality. Simultaneously, the 'Kitchen' trial saw former Interior officials deny the operation's existence.
By afternoon, the government, through minister Óscar Puente, escalated its rhetoric, denouncing 'non-democratic methods' to bring down the executive. Feijóo vowed to do 'everything possible' to change the government, while the PNV declared the legislature over and demanded elections. The day's narrative arc moved from judicial revelations to a political standoff over the timing of Sánchez's accountability.
The morning began with further details on the 'One' code name and the UCO raid on Ferraz, while the trial of David Sánchez, the prime minister's brother, opened with his lawyer seeking nullity and the prosecutor defending the judge's impartiality. Simultaneously, the 'Kitchen' trial saw former Interior officials deny the operation's existence.
By afternoon, the government, through minister Óscar Puente, escalated its rhetoric, denouncing 'non-democratic methods' to bring down the executive. Feijóo vowed to do 'everything possible' to change the government, while the PNV declared the legislature over and demanded elections. The day's narrative arc moved from judicial revelations to a political standoff over the timing of Sánchez's accountability.
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The PSOE corruption scandal continued to dominate, but the day's editorial shift centered on Junts' declaration that it expects Sánchez to call elections and marks Vox as a red line, repeated hourly by RTVE. Morning headlines also highlighted a GESOP poll showing 45% support for a Feijóo no-confidence motion. The 'fontanera' case saw new developments: El Confidencial reported Sánchez may be forced to testify, while El Español noted the Complutense demands Begoña Gómez return €113,000. By afternoon, the PP was placed to lead popular accusations against Zapatero in the 'Plus Ultra' case. International news focused on Trump's contradictory signals on an Iran deal, and a Catalan education pre-agreement was reached.
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The Armed Forces Day parade in Vigo, presided over by the King and featuring Princess Leonor's debut, was marred when the national flag fell during hoisting, an incident reported across RTVE and 20minutos. The mishap overshadowed the event, which also lacked air displays due to weather.
Politically, the PSOE corruption scandal continued to erode Sánchez's support. The PNV warned Sánchez to 'take the bull by the horns' but denied negotiating a no-confidence motion, while the PP accused the PNV of 'sustaining the mafia' in government. Sumar and left-wing allies demanded the PSOE 'clean house' and take responsibility for corruption cases.
Internationally, Trump's Iran policy remained in focus, with reports of his 'patience' for a deal, while the UN faced bankruptcy from US and Chinese payment defaults. The Champions League final, won by PSG on penalties, dominated sports coverage.
Politically, the PSOE corruption scandal continued to erode Sánchez's support. The PNV warned Sánchez to 'take the bull by the horns' but denied negotiating a no-confidence motion, while the PP accused the PNV of 'sustaining the mafia' in government. Sumar and left-wing allies demanded the PSOE 'clean house' and take responsibility for corruption cases.
Internationally, Trump's Iran policy remained in focus, with reports of his 'patience' for a deal, while the UN faced bankruptcy from US and Chinese payment defaults. The Champions League final, won by PSG on penalties, dominated sports coverage.
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Sánchez's speech at the socialist youth congress dominated the day, with his 'marrullera' epithet for the PP-Vox opposition echoed across outlets from El País to RTVE. He vowed to govern until 2027 and beyond, dismissing corruption cases as 'infundios' and urging supporters to 'a por ellos.'
El Mundo reported PSOE fears that 'Julito' might implicate Zapatero, while El Español published a poll showing the opposition leading by 66 seats. The day also saw Colombia's presidential elections, with De la Espriella and Cepeda leading early counts, and international tensions over Lebanon and Ukraine.
El Mundo reported PSOE fears that 'Julito' might implicate Zapatero, while El Español published a poll showing the opposition leading by 66 seats. The day also saw Colombia's presidential elections, with De la Espriella and Cepeda leading early counts, and international tensions over Lebanon and Ukraine.
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