Spain's Supreme Court has opened a preliminary investigation into former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos over alleged irregularities in emergency public procurement contracts awarded during the pandemic. The inquiry adds to political pressure on the governing Spanish Socialist Workers' Party.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Rejects Resignation Calls Amid Corruption Controversy
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has rejected opposition demands for his resignation following police disclosures involving former party aides and public contracting decisions. Addressing the Congress of Deputies, Sánchez defended his government's integrity as the conservative Popular Party intensified its criticism.
Spain's Parliament Approves Criminal Law Changes Affecting Sentences of Basque Prisoners
Spain's Congress of Deputies has approved legislation aligning national criminal justice rules with European Union requirements. The changes have sparked controversy over provisions that could allow dozens of imprisoned Basque nationalists to count time served in French prisons toward their sentences in Spain.
Spanish Government Advances Catalan Financing Deal to Secure Budget Support
Spain's central government and Catalan pro-independence parties have made progress in negotiations over changes to regional financing arrangements. The proposed concessions are intended to help secure parliamentary support for the national budget but have drawn constitutional objections from other autonomous communities.
Spain's Opposition Demands Broad Audits of State Contracts Amid Procurement Controversy
Spain's Popular Party and Vox have submitted parliamentary requests for detailed audits of public procurement involving state-owned companies, airport operators and transport authorities. The demands focus on contracts awarded during the pandemic as opposition parties seek greater scrutiny of government spending.
Bank of Spain Forecasts 2.8% Economic Growth, Outpacing Major Eurozone Economies
The Bank of Spain expects the country's economy to expand by 2.8% this year, supported by household spending, employment growth and exports of services beyond tourism. The forecast points to stronger economic performance than that projected for several major eurozone partners.
Spain's Housing Shortage Pushes Rents Higher and Squeezes Younger Workers
The Bank of Spain has warned that persistent housing shortages in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and the Balearic Islands are driving rents to record levels. The rising cost of accommodation is making it harder for younger workers to buy homes or move for employment opportunities.
Spain's Annual Inflation Falls to 1.7% as Energy Price Pressures Ease
Spain's National Statistics Institute has confirmed that annual consumer price inflation moderated to 1.7%, helped by easing energy costs. The decline offers some relief to household purchasing power and brings price growth below the European Central Bank's 2% inflation target.
Spain Allocates €750 Million to Expand Green Hydrogen Production
Spain's Ministry for the Ecological Transition has announced €750 million in European recovery funding for large-scale green hydrogen projects. The investment will support industrial production hubs in Andalusia, Asturias and the Basque Country as Spain expands lower-emission energy technologies.
Spain Accelerates Electricity Grid Investment to Support Growing Solar and Wind Output
Spain's national grid operator, Red Eléctrica, is expanding investment in high-voltage transmission networks to accommodate rising renewable electricity generation. The projects aim to reduce restrictions on solar and wind output while strengthening connections between Spanish regions and southern France.
Spanish Treasury Raises €5 Billion in Bond Auction Amid Strong Investor Demand
Spain's Treasury has raised €5 billion through an oversubscribed auction of medium- and long-term government bonds. Strong international demand and narrowing yield differences with German government debt point to continued investor interest in Spanish sovereign securities.
Spain's Major Banks Maintain Strong Profits Amid Expectations of ECB Rate Cuts
Banco Santander, BBVA and CaixaBank have reported resilient domestic profitability, supported by stable loan quality and interest income. The lenders are preparing for potential European Central Bank rate reductions while monitoring borrowing demand and funding costs.
Spain Approves €300 Million in Semiconductor Funding for Barcelona and Madrid
Spain's national microelectronics initiative has approved €300 million in government support for advanced semiconductor design facilities in Barcelona and Madrid. The funding aims to strengthen domestic chip engineering capabilities and increase Spain's participation in international semiconductor supply chains.
Telefónica and Cloud Providers Expand AI Data Center Infrastructure in Aragón
Telefónica and international cloud infrastructure companies have begun expanding data center facilities in Spain's Aragón region. The projects are designed to increase computing capacity for artificial intelligence and enterprise cloud services while strengthening regional digital infrastructure.
Barcelona Supercomputing Center Expands MareNostrum 5 Capacity for European AI Research
The Barcelona Supercomputing Center has upgraded computing resources within its MareNostrum 5 system to support the development of multilingual, open-source artificial intelligence models. The additional capacity will serve scientific research and public administration applications.
Madrid Attracts More Than €150 Million in New Software and Fintech Investment
Multinational technology companies have committed more than €150 million to expanding software engineering and financial technology operations in Madrid, according to regional authorities. The investments reflect continued interest in the Spanish capital's technical workforce and international business connections.
Spain's Securities Regulator Eases Approval Processes for Technology Investment Funds
Spain's National Securities Market Commission has introduced updated compliance procedures aimed at accelerating investment into technology-focused venture capital funds. The changes cover financing vehicles supporting artificial intelligence, biotechnology and other advanced industries.
Spain's International Tourist Arrivals Surpass 84 Million as Visitor Spending Rises
Spain's tourism authorities report that international visitor arrivals have exceeded 84 million this year, while tourist spending has increased 12% from a year earlier. Strong demand across peak and off-peak travel periods continues to support the country's tourism economy.
Balearic and Canary Islands Advance Restrictions on Tourist Accommodation and Environmental Levies
Regional lawmakers in Spain's Balearic and Canary Islands are advancing legislation that would allow local authorities to limit tourist accommodation licenses and introduce environmental charges. The measures seek to manage visitor pressure and protect natural resources in heavily visited destinations.
Barcelona and Catalan Coastal Towns Increase Enforcement Against Unregistered Holiday Rentals
Authorities in Barcelona and coastal Catalan municipalities have stepped up inspections of unregistered tourist accommodation. The campaign includes checks of digital booking platforms and aims to enforce local housing regulations intended to preserve residential availability.
Spanish High-Speed Rail Operators Report Double-Digit Passenger Growth on Major Routes
Renfe and private high-speed rail operators have reported double-digit increases in passenger numbers on routes linking Madrid with Barcelona, Valencia and Seville. The growth reflects rising use of rail travel as competition expands across Spain's intercity transport network.
Spain Advances Mediterranean Freight Rail Connections Serving Port of Valencia
Spain's Transport Ministry has completed key environmental assessments for freight rail connections serving the Port of Valencia. The proposed infrastructure improvements are intended to ease transport bottlenecks and strengthen the Mediterrane