On 13 July, a rare wave of anti-migrant violence erupted in Torre Pacheco, a town in the southeastern region of Murcia. The unrest was sparked by the beating of an elderly local man by three young men of North African origin on 9 July. Far-right groups, including some from outside the region, co-opted the incident (which was circulated on social media alongside inflammatory misinformation) to mobilize, and staged violent and racially motivated marches in the town. Over five days, these groups vandalized migrant-owned businesses and intimidated residents in the town’s neighborhoods, home to a large migrant population. Security forces were deployed to contain the violence and prevent direct clashes between agitators and locals. Authorities arrested at least 14 people, including the leader of a far-right group on hate crime charges. The Murcia Prosecutor’s Office also launched an investigation into the regional leader of the far-right Vox party for alleged incitement to hatred. 

Sources: El País (1), El País (2), Cadena Ser, Eldiario.es, British Broadcasting Corporation 

On 17 July, a lower court charged former finance minister Cristobal Montoro, along with 27 others, including high-ranking officials, in a corruption case involving the creation of a criminal network that altered laws to benefit gas companies during Montoro’s latest tenure between 2011 and 2018. Equipo Económico, a tax consulting firm originally founded by Montoro and involved in providing advice to businesses, has been implicated in the scandal, with the investigation looking into whether this firm went beyond legitimate ‘lobbying’ in influencing certain legislative projects to benefit its clients, securing the support of officials in the Ministry and the Tax Agency through kickbacks. Montoro resigned from his party membership in the Popular Party (PP) following the indictment. Current Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the government will seek to repeal the fiscal privileges granted to the companies involved in the scandal. The investigation is ongoing.

Sources: Radio Televisión Española, El País, Cadena Ser 

On 13 May, the Council of Ministers approved a draft law to change how judges and prosecutors are selected, sending it to parliament for debate. The government says the proposals aim to modernize the judicial system and would mark the first major reform in 40 years. Currently, candidates must pass a highly competitive national exam known as the oposición, which requires years of unpaid preparation. The reform would introduce alternative paths, such as considering prior professional experience and providing financial support like scholarships to reduce economic barriers to preparation. The proposal would also shift responsibility for criminal investigations from judges to prosecutors. Supporters argue the changes would make these careers more accessible and diverse by lowering financial burdens for aspiring candidates. Critics, however, warn that transferring investigative powers to prosecutors could threaten judicial independence, since prosecutors ultimately report to the executive.

Sources: Spanish Council of Ministers, Cinco Días, El País, Europa Press

On 5 April, tens of thousands of people marched across 39 cities to protest the soaring cost of housing and the growing difficulty of affording rent or buying a home. Organizers estimated 150,000 participants in Madrid and over 100,000 in Barcelona alone, while local authorities cited lower numbers. The protests were organized by tenants’ unions, neighborhood associations, and other civil society groups to denounce the lack of affordable housing, the sharp rise in property and rental prices, and speculation in the real estate market, especially in urban areas. Protesters called for measures such as rent caps, stronger protections for tenants, and stricter regulations on short-term tourist rentals. Earlier this year, the government unveiled a national housing policy plan ("Plan Estatal de Vivienda") that includes expanding the public housing stock and offering rental subsidies, with a focus on improving access for the most vulnerable populations. 

Sources: El País, Associated Press, Telecinco, RTVE, El Confidencial 

On 19 November, the Council of Ministers approved new immigration regulations to simplify residency and work permit processes for foreign nationals. A key change reduces the required continuous stay from three years to two for obtaining a residence permit based on "arraigo" (rootedness, reflecting ties to Spain). The decree will also make it easier for undocumented migrants to regularize their status, including those denied international protection. Migrants will receive an initial one-year work permit, renewable for four-year periods, while job-seeking visas will be extended from three months to one year. Family reunification rules are relaxed, raising the eligible age for children from 21 to 26, and allowing non-registered couples to apply. The updated regulations take effect on 20 May 2025, and the government expects the changes will regularize the status of 300,000 people per year over the next three years.

Sources: Boletin Oficial del Estado, Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, El Pais