The president of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has starred in one of the moments of greatest closeness with the citizens during the military parade of October 12 in Madrid, where several attendees approached to greet him, hug him, and ask for photographs. The leader of the opposition took advantage of his presence at the events of the National Day of Spain to exchange gestures of affection with part of the public gathered in the vicinity of the route, on a day in which he also held a meeting with the president of the Autonomous City of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas.
The images show Feijóo surrounded by citizens who seek to take pictures with him and greet him personally, while the popular leader attends to the requests and stops to chat with some of those present. The scene occurs on an October 12 of special political intensity, marked by the booing and insults against the president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and by the decision of the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, not to attend the official events in Madrid and to travel precisely to Ceuta to celebrate Hispanicity.
Feijóo takes photos with attendees and coincides with Juan Jesús Vivas
The warm welcome to Alberto Núñez Feijóo has left images of greetings, hugs, and photographs with citizens who approached the president of the PP during his participation in the celebration. The Galician leader has maintained direct contact with some attendees, who took advantage of his presence to approach him at one of the main institutional events on the Spanish calendar. The gestures captured in the video reflect the expressions of affection from this group of citizens, although they do not allow extrapolating that reception to the entire public.
During the day, there was also a meeting between Feijóo and Juan Jesús Vivas, president of Ceuta and leader of the Popular Party, whose presence in Madrid has gained special relevance due to the political situation of the autonomous city. Both leaders had already shared events in the previous days, in which the popular formation has placed the defense of Ceuta and Melilla among the highlighted issues of its political agenda.
The coincidence takes place, moreover, a few days after Vivas participated alongside the leader of the PP in various institutional and political events related to the autonomous cities. The president of Ceuta has gone to Madrid to attend the parade presided over by the Kings, while the situation in his city has occupied part of the national political debate in recent weeks, especially due to the migratory pressure and issues related to border security.
Ceuta, protagonist of October 12 due to the absence of Abascal
The presence of Juan Jesús Vivas coincides with one of the most notable political decisions of this National Holiday: Santiago Abascal has declined to attend the Madrid parade and has chosen Ceuta to celebrate October 12. The president of Vox has justified his absence by his refusal to share a platform with Pedro Sánchez and has developed a political agenda focused on immigration, security, and the defense of Spanish borders.
Abascal's decision also has an electoral dimension, as the debate about Ceuta and Melilla has gained prominence ahead of the general elections on November 29. In this context, while the leader of Vox has chosen to move to the autonomous city, Feijóo has attended the official events in Madrid, where he coincided with Vivas and representatives of the main state institutions.
Additionally, there is the scheduled visit of Kings Felipe VI and Letizia to Ceuta and Melilla on October 13 and 14, an event of special institutional importance for both cities. The presence of their presidents at the Madrid parade, along with the various gestures of recognition received during the day, has contributed to placing the two territories at the center of political and institutional current affairs.
The boos to Sánchez mark the political contrast
The reception of Feijóo took place on a morning in which Pedro Sánchez was once again the target of insults, whistles, and boos from some of the citizens watching the parade. The head of the Executive arrived in an official car at the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, where he remained for a few moments inside the vehicle before getting out and positioning himself alongside the other authorities to receive the Kings.
The protests have repeated during the protocol greeting of the Royal Family to the political representatives, leaving one of the most commented images of the celebration. The shouts against Sánchez have contrasted with the displays of affection that other attendees have directed at Feijóo, although these are reactions led by specific groups of citizens and not a representative assessment of the entire audience.
The celebration comes in the midst of the pre-campaign for the general elections on November 29, after the president of the PP starred in a political event in Madrid on Saturday to mobilize his party ahead of the upcoming elections. The proximity of the electoral date adds relevance to the public appearances of the main political leaders, even in institutional events such as National Day.
A parade with the Royal Family and more than 4,000 participants
Beyond the political scenes, the military parade of October 12 has gathered in Madrid 4,380 members of the Armed Forces, the State Security Forces and Corps, and other public institutions. The ceremony has been presided over by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, accompanied by Princess Leonor, dressed in the gala uniform of the Army, and Infanta Sofía.
The parade has traversed the Prado promenade and the Recoletos promenade, passing in front of the royal stand located in Neptune Square, and has included aerial displays, the jump of paratroopers with the national flag, and the traditional tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain. In the land parade, 144 vehicles, 39 motorcycles, and various military units on foot and horseback participated, while in the sky over Madrid, an exhibition with different aircraft from the Armed Forces took place.
In this scenario, the meeting of Alberto Núñez Feijóo with Juan Jesús Vivas and the images of the popular leader taking photographs and receiving hugs from several attendees have added to the numerous moments left by the National Day of 2026. A celebration that has combined institutional protocol, military displays, and contact between political representatives and citizens, at a time of special political activity due to the proximity of the general elections.