Welcome to Spain Today News - 28 October 2025

Gender Violence Investigation in Murcia

The Guardia Civil is investigating the death of a 19-year-old woman in Librilla, Murcia, as a possible case of gender violence. The victim’s lifeless body was found in a home that she shared with her partner, who has since been detained. The suspect reportedly had no prior history of abuse. The victim was not registered in the VioGen system. If confirmed as a machista crime, she would be the 34th victim of gender violence in 2025 and the 1,328th since 2003. The Delegate of the Government in Murcia, Francisco Lucas, noted that this would be the second victim of gender violence this year in the Region of Murcia. Resources for victims of gender violence, such as the 016 phone line (available 24 hours a day in 53 languages), the 600000016 WhatsApp number, and emergency calls to 112 or police lines (091/062), remain available.

Junts Breaks with PSOE and Moves to Opposition

Carles Puigdemont, the leader of Junts, announced that the party is breaking its agreement with the PSOE and shifting into the opposition. This decision was driven by the perceived lack of political will from the PSOE to execute the agreements reached for Pedro Sánchez’s investiture in November 2023, leading to mutual distrust. Junts believes that what has not been fulfilled in nearly two years of the legislature is unlikely to be fulfilled soon. Key unfulfilled points of contention include the official status of Catalan in the European Union, the application of amnesty (pending Constitutional Court decision), and the lack of transparency regarding fiscal balances—which are necessary for Junts to negotiate the 2026 General State Budgets.

The Junts Executive Directorate approved the rupture, and the decision will be ratified through a consultation with the militancy, taking place from Wednesday until Thursday at 18:00. Puigdemont warned that if the rupture is ratified, the Spanish Government will lose its investiture majority and will not have the capacity to govern or pass budgets.

PSOE Justifies Cash Payments

The PSOE delivered documentation to the Supreme Court to justify cash payments made at its Ferraz headquarters in an effort to demonstrate that there is no 'Caja B' (slush fund). This submission responds to an UCO report that identified €95,000 in unjustified expenses in the accounts of former Minister José Luis Ábalos. The documentation covers an extensive period, including years beyond those requested by the instructing judge in the Koldo case.

Socialists argue that cash payments for expense settlements are legal and common practice in political parties and institutions like the Senate, and that all transactions have been accounted for and audited by the Court of Accounts. Following the controversy, the Senate approved the elimination of cash payments for senators’ per diems.

Regional Politics in Murcia and Extremadura

Fernando López Miras, the President of the Region of Murcia, described the early election called in Extremadura as "coherent" given the opposition’s inability to agree on the 2026 regional budgets. López Miras denied that the decision was mandated by the national PP leadership (Génova), stressing that Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who has significant experience governing, respects the autonomy of regional presidents.

Miras also accused the PSOE and Vox of "making the pincers" (colluding) in the Murcia Parliament, citing an example where they agreed to schedule control sessions on the same days as the Governing Council meetings. Regarding his own government, Miras defended the stability provided by the 2025 budgets, which were achieved through an agreement with Vox, noting that the negotiated budgetary items with Vox constituted less than 1% of the total budget. Miras also acknowledged the "complicated" political situation surrounding Carlos Mazón, the President of the Valencian Generalitat, following a catastrophe (the DANA).