The National Holiday parade has regained the spectacular nature and dimensions that the pandemic took away from it, but it has been marked by the absence of the highest representative of one of the powers of the State.
The absence of Carlos Lesmes, who resigned on Monday as president of the General Council of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court, has marked the military parade and the subsequent reception that the King and Queen have offered at the Royal Palace to more than 2,000 guests.
In what seems to have become a tradition, he has been booed and cursed by the public, with cries of “Sánchez, resign!”
and insults.
The noisiest group was about 100 meters from the presidential gallery and, contrary to what is traditional in this type of event, it was not particularly enthusiastic when the Civil Guard or the Legion passed by and seemed to only be aware of the president of the government.
Contrary to what is established by protocol, Sánchez has not waited at the foot of the rostrum to receive the King together with the other authorities.
He has adjusted his arrival so much that the Rolls-Royce of the Royal House has arrived before and Felipe VI has had to wait almost a minute inside it for the President of the Government to appear.
Some have interpreted that La Moncloa has tried to prevent Sánchez from being exposed to insults in the middle of Paseo de la Castellana.
The truth is that his arrival was not announced over the public address system and, after the act, the vehicle that was taking him to the Royal Palace avoided going down the Paseo de la Castellana, like the rest of the caravan of authorities, and crossed the area where Parade attendees thronged.
In an informal conversation with journalists, during the subsequent reception offered by the Kings, Sánchez has denied any intention to the delay.
“I have left [La Moncloa] when they have told me”, he has answered.
The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has played down the importance of the delay and has been convinced that it would be involuntary;
while the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, has said that it seemed incredible to him that the Kings were prevented from getting out of the official car until Sánchez arrived and was pleased that he only has one National Holiday left as president before he is evicted in the next general election.
More than 4,000 soldiers, 150 vehicles, 84 aircraft (58 planes and 26 helicopters) and almost 220 horses.
Not only members of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard have paraded, but also members of other organizations involved in guaranteeing the safety of citizens (Civil Protection, Maritime Rescue, Customs Surveillance, the National Police Corps and even a unit of the Canarian Autonomous Police), whose presence has been more relevant than ever.
The star has once again been the Águila Acrobatic Patrol, with its seven C-101 jets, which have twice drawn the Spanish flag in the sky over Madrid, this time with a renewable fuel made from biomass thanks to an agreement with Repsol company.
Although the novelty has been the new Swiss-made
Pilatus
aircraft used to instruct pilots at the General Air Academy, in San Javier (Murcia).
All the autonomous presidents of the PSOE and the PP, in addition to those of Cantabria and those of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, have attended the parade (the president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, waved a Spanish banner as the troops passed).
Missing, as usual, are the Catalan president, Pere Aragonès, and the Basque lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu.
All the members of the Government were also present —including Irene Montero, Minister of Equality, and Alberto Garzón, of Consumption, members of Podemos and Izquierda Unida, respectively—, except for the first and third vice presidents, Nadia Calviño and Teresa Ribera, in Washington and Prague , respectively;
the head of Social Rights, Ione Belarra, in an advanced state of pregnancy;
and that of Universities, Joan Subirats.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo was seen chatting in public for the first time with Santiago Abascal, who a few weeks ago met in secret.
Between them sat the popular spokesperson in Congress, Cuca Gamarra, and the PSOE, Patxi López.
The festive day, in any case, has been marked by the absence of the former president of the Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and the Supreme Court, Carlos Lesmes, whose resignation has been published this Wednesday in the BOE.
To their absence has been added the protest of a part of the conservative members of the CGPJ, who complain about the delay of the Ministry of Defense in sending them the invitations and, in protest, they have not attended the parade and have gone directly to the reception in the Royal Palace.
King Felipe talks with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, at the end of the National Holiday Day parade.Samuel Sánchez
Queen Letizia aboard the official car, after attending the National Holiday Day parade. Zipi (EFE)
The King and Queen and the Infanta Sofía leave Cuzco's square after the parade on October 12.
JUAN MEDINA (REUTERS)
A civil guard participates in the parade on October 12.
JUAN MEDINA (REUTERS)
Members of the Royal Guard parade along the Paseo de la Castellana.
JUAN MEDINA (REUTERS)
Members of the National Police Cavalry Unit participate in the National Holiday Day parade. Zipi (EFE)
An Army tank, during the military parade on October 12.
Samuel Sanchez
The public crowds at a bus stop to follow the parade on October 12.
Alvaro Garcia
A flag seller, in the parade on October 12. Álvaro García
A ram, mascot of the Legion, accompanies the troops of the military force during the parade of the National Day.
Rodrigo Jimenez (EFE)
Members of the Civil Guard participate in the parade of the National Holiday Day. Samuel Sánchez
Members of the Military Emergency Unit pass in front of the tribune of authorities. Zipi (EFE)
The Eagle Patrol draws the Spanish flag in the sky during the National Holiday Day parade.Samuel Sánchez
The King and Queen and the Infanta Sofía follow the air parade that kicks off the military acts on October 12.
Samuel Sanchez
Residents of Madrid follow the air parade on October 12 from their homes.
Samuel Sanchez
The public follows the wake of the planes that participate in the parade on October 12.Álvaro García
Fighters in formation cross the sky of Madrid.
Alvaro Garcia
King Felipe VI presides over the National Holiday Day parade, this Wednesday, in Madrid, accompanied by Queen Letizia, Infanta Sofía, and the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. RODRIGO JIMÉNEZ (EFE)
A parachutist lands with the Spanish flag in the Plaza de Cuzco, at the beginning of the acts on October 12.
Bernat Armangue (AP)
King Felipe VI reviews the Royal Guard, upon his arrival at the parade of the National Holiday on October 12.
Bernat Armangue (AP)
The king greets the Ministers of Science and Equality, Diana Morant and Irene Montero, and the Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón, at the start of the National Holiday Day parade.
Rodrigo Jimenez (EFE)
The Infanta Sofía, Queen Letizia, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, arrive at the start of the events on October 12.
Samuel Sanchez
The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, talks with the Second Vice President and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, upon arrival at the National Holiday Day parade. Bernat Armangue (AP)
The president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, talks with Santiago Abascal, leader of Vox, in the gallery of the authorities.
Samuel Sanchez
The presidents of Murcia, Fernando López Miras, of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, of Cantabria, Miguel Ángel Revilla, and of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno, in the authorities' box, during the National Holiday Day parade, this Wednesday, in Madrid.ZIPI (EFE)
In the gallery, among the attendees, the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and the president of the Junta de Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco.Samuel Sánchez
The regulars await the start of the parade.Álvaro García
Legionnaires rehearse the formation, minutes before starting the parade on October 12.
Alvaro Garcia
A legionnaire wears on his chest a national shield to which two caps have been added.
Alvaro Garcia
Some legionnaires take a photo shortly before the start of the parade on October 12.
Alvaro Garcia
Army troops wait for the start of the parade on Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid.
Alvaro Garcia
Royal guards wait for the start of the military parade.Álvaro García
Members of the regulars, in a cafeteria in Madrid, shortly before the parade on October 12.
Alvaro Garcia
The sailors wait for the start of the parade on the Paseo de la Castellana.
Alvaro Garcia
The public takes positions on the Paseo de la Castellana before the start of the parade.
Alvaro Garcia
A civil guard prepares one of the horses that is going to parade in the military parade on October 12.
Alvaro Garcia
A Civil Guard truck in which the horses are transported for the National Holiday parade.
Alvaro Garcia
Suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic and reduced to a minimum in 2021, the reception offered by the King and Queen this October 12 has recovered all its splendor and, with 2,500 guests, has had a wide representation not only of the institutions but of numerous social entities.
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This has been the arrival of the kings and Sánchez – received with boos – to the parade https://t.co/cLOFp7RMk7 pic.twitter.com/JYZnyFkduD
– THE COUNTRY (@el_pais) October 12, 2022
