On March 8, 2023, significant discussions surrounding the abolition of prostitution and the feminist movement unfolded in Spain as various political parties engaged in a public dialogue on gender rights.

Ana Redondo, the Minister of Equality, reiterated the government's commitment to moving towards 'the abolition of prostitution,' deeming it a form of 'slavery absolutely incompatible with democracy.' This proclamation took place during a prominent feminist event coinciding with International Women's Day, which saw multiple marches in cities including Madrid and Barcelona.

The marches in Madrid were marked by various attendance figures, with official government estimates citing over 34,000 participants across two demonstrations.

While this number remains consistent with previous years, it considerably contrasts with the peaks of 350,000 in 2019 and 120,000 in 2020. Notably, the demonstrations in 2021 were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Redondo was part of a significant government delegation attending the main march, which was organized by the Commission 8M.

The manifesto of this event explicitly stated support for trans rights, emphasizing: 'We are the feminism that defends the rights of trans people.' Critical voices within the traditional feminist sector, represented by former Vice President Carmen Calvo, expressed concerns, suggesting that the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) should distance itself from queer perspectives, aiming to uphold classic feminist views on prostitution.

Calvo articulated in a recent conference that 'biological sex exists, matters, determines, and condemns many women,' highlighting a divide within the feminist landscape in Spain.

In contrast to the more inclusive stance at the Commission 8M march, a separate, smaller event organized by the Madrid Feminist Movement drew attention to the call for an outright ban on prostitution, gestation surrogacy, and the participation of trans women in women's sports.

At this second march attended by Redondo, the demand for the abolition of prostitution was emphasized through the statement, 'No woman is born to be a prostitute.' The gathering also featured significant participation from notable political figures, including representatives from the left-leaning coalition Sumar.

The Partido Popular (PP) leveraged the discourse of the 8-M events to question the current government's commitment to feminist issues amid allegations of hypocrisy tied to past scandals involving PSOE members, such as former Minister José Luis Ábalos.

PP officials criticized the appearance of various ministers at the 8-M marches, accusing the coalition government of 'blowing up feminism' for electoral purposes.

The PP's vice-secretary for Equality, Ana Alós, highlighted discrepancies between political rhetoric and actions, making specific references to Ábalos's controversies.

In parallel, the PP employed social media to release a satirical video employing artificial intelligence, which critiques perceived contradictions within the ruling coalition regarding feminist principles and issues related to sexual misconduct involving previous party members.

Prominent figures from the left, including Irene Montero, also commented on internal party dynamics, defending decisions made regarding Juan Carlos Monedero, who was removed from Podemos amid a scandal, and criticizing Sumar’s approach to handling allegations against Íñigo Errejón.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the PP, took the opportunity provided by 8-M to honor his grandmother as a symbol of strength, linking her experiences to broader themes of feminism.

In response, Félix Bolaños, an official from the PSOE, criticized Feijóo's interpretation of feminism, stating that it risks relegating contemporary women's rights to past injustices.

The events of March 8 revealed deep-seated tensions not only between political parties but also within the feminist movement itself, demonstrating the complexities involved in contemporary discussions about gender rights and societal norms.