The military parade of the Day of Hispanity, presided over by the Kings, has started this Monday without notable incidents, beyond the usual boos and jeers directed at the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, in an edition conditioned by the proximity of the general elections on November 29 and by the crisis in Ceuta.
Felipe VI, dressed in the gala uniform of the Air Force as captain general of the Armies, arrived at the royal stand past 11:00 AM accompanied by Queen Letizia. Alongside them was Princess Leonor, this time in the uniform of the Army after completing her military training, and Infanta Sofía, who was moved to Madrid for the event, as she is studying Political Science and Relations at Forward College. The royal family was received by the authorities and cheered by the public.
In contrast, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who arrived at the venue before Their Majesties, was met with boos, whistles, and insults from some of the attendees.
In the authorities' stand, installed in the Plaza de Neptuno, are the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, and the rest of the members of the Executive, except for the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, the Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, the head of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy, and the Minister of Health, Mónica García. Institutional representatives such as the Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, the president of the General Council of the Judiciary, Isbael Perelló, the Attorney General, Teresa Peramato, as well as the presidents of the Senate and the Congress, Pedro Rollan and Francina Armengol, also attend.
At the foot of the royal stand, high-ranking officials await the start of the parade, such as the director of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González, the director of the National Police, Francisco Pardo, the Secretary of State for Defense, Amparo Valcarce, and the director of the CNI, Esperanza Casteleiro.
In the guest tribune, practically all the regional presidents have gathered. Only Imanol Pradales (Basque Country), María Chivite (Navarre), and Juanma Moreno (Andalusia) are missing. The absence of the head of the Andalusian Executive is due to his participation in the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions (CdR) in Brussels, where he will also attend the inauguration of the European Week of Regions and Cities. The presence of the presidents of Ceuta and Melilla, Juan Jesús Vivas and Juan José Imbroda, respectively, is noteworthy, given that the Kings will visit both autonomous cities on October 13 and 14.
Among the attendees are also the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the spokesperson for the PSOE, Montse Minguez, the spokesperson for the PP in Congress, Ester Muñoz, and the popular deputy Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo. In contrast, the president of Vox, Santiago Abascal, is once again absent from the events of October 12 and has chosen this time to commemorate the National Day in Ceuta.
The military parade runs along the Paseo del Prado and the Paseo de Recoletos until it ends at the Plaza de Colón. This is the fourth consecutive year that this route has been maintained, due to the impossibility of celebrating it on the Paseo de la Castellana because of the traffic underground works.
It is expected that 4,380 members of the Armed Forces, the State Security Forces and Corps, and other public civil institutions will participate, all in formal uniform. Of these, 3,850 are men and 530 are women.
Before the passage of the units, honors have been paid to the Kings, and Felipe VI has reviewed the troops accompanied by the Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro Esteban Calderón.
Subsequently, the jump of the Air Force Parachuting Acrobatic Patrol (PAPEA) is scheduled, which this year has been led by Sergeant 1st Pablo García Matanza and Corporal 1st José Antonio Lago Rubio.
Afterwards, the national flag will be raised and a tribute will be paid to those who gave their lives for Spain. Following this, the passing of the Eagle Patrol and the aerial and ground parades of units from the Armies, the Navy, the Civil Guard, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), the Royal Guard, the State Security Forces and Corps, and various Security, Civil Protection, and Emergency agencies will take place.
Among the main novelties of this year are three 8x8 Dragón armored vehicles from the Army that will participate in the parade. Specifically, two units will be shown in their Infantry version (VCI) and one in their Sappers version (VCZAP), all belonging to the "Rey Alfonso XIII" Brigade of the Legion (BRILEG).
However, this is not the first occasion that these armored vehicles parade in a military event, as two of them were exhibited in the parade held in Vigo last April on the occasion of the DIFAS.