Spanish Politician Alejo Vidal-Quadras ‘Stable’ after Shooting

Alejo Vidal-Quadras,  former president of the conservative People’s Party in Catalonia, is reportedly in ‘stable’ condition after being shot in the face in Madrid.

The attack took place on Thursday 9th November in Calle Núñez de Balboa, Madrid. According to investigators, a man wearing a helmet shot Vidal-Quadras before getting on a black Yamaha motorbike with another man. Both fled the scene.

Vidal-Quadras, 78, was shot through the jaw and taken to the Gregorio Marañon hospital. He is now receiving treatment for his wound. Pedro Sanchéz, Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Spain’s acting prime minister, expressed solidarity and called for a quick arrest of the attackers.

“I want to convey my solidarity and wishes for a speedy recovery to Alejo Vidal-Quadras,” Sanchéz wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “All my affection at this time is for him and his family. We trust that the investigation can clarify the facts as soon as possible, and that those responsible will be arrested.”

Vidal-Quadras is a veteran of the Spanish political landscape. After chairing the conservative People’s Party in Catalonia in the 1990s, he left the party in 2014 and joined the far-right party Vox, which he left a year later. He served as an MEP and as vice president of the European Parliament between 1999 and 2014.

Spain’s Political Turmoil

There is no known motive for the attack, which comes at a time of political turmoil in Spain. After the latest general election in the country failed to turn a clear majority, socialist leader Pedro Sanchéz recently came one step closer to another term in the office thanks to the support of Catalan separatists.

In exchange for this support, he promised an amnesty for those who took part to the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. The Catalan government carried out the referendum weeks after the Constitutional Court of Spain’s had seemed it unconstitutional. Catalan separatists were harshly prosecuted for their part in the referendum.

Sanchéz’s offer of amnesty, while welcomed by Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, was strongly criticised by conservative and far right parties.

Vidal-Quadras also condemned the move. On the day of the shooting he wrote, “The infamous pact between Sánchez and Puigdemont that crushes the rule of law in Spain and ends the separation of powers has already been agreed. Our Nation will thus cease to be a liberal democracy and become a totalitarian tyranny. We Spaniards will not allow it.”

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