The Spanish newspaper Público published a map on Monday of attacks against political party offices in the country during this legislature. Over two years, there were a total of 291 attacks against party offices. Left-wing parties were the target in 91.7% of cases.

Of the 268 attacks on left-wing party offices, the PSOE [1] was most affected with 238, followed by Izquierda Unida/PCE [2] with 17, Podemos [3] with seven, the Galician Nationalist Bloc with three, Compromís [4] with two and EH Bildu [5] with one.

On the side of the national right and Catalan and Basque sovereigntists, there were 23 attacks: ten on Vox [6] offices, seven on PP [7] offices, five on PNV [8] offices and one on Junts [9] offices.

PSOE, the main target, complains that the right has never condemned attacks

Regarding PSOE offices, there were two peaks of attacks. The first occurred between November and the first week of December when the party reached an agreement with the Catalan party Junts. During this period, there were at least 91 attacks on offices, not counting personal attacks. Party sources say that in reality there were more. Many offices in smaller towns do not even report incidents.

The second peak was this summer, when the case involving the party’s organisational secretary Santos Cerdán became known. In June and July alone, more than two dozen attacks occurred.

It should be noted that the newspaper counts acts of vandalism such as graffiti on façades as attacks. In the case of the PSOE, these have primarily been Nazi symbols and accusations of corruption. But there have also been more serious situations such as explosive attacks.

The PSOE complained to the Spanish daily that “neither Feijóo [10] nor anyone from the PP national leadership has ever condemned the violence suffered” by their party.

Izquierda Unida reports having suffered “more than three dozen attacks” since November 2023, just over half against offices. The political formation also notes a “significant increase in verbal harassment against leaders and public office holders” “both when carrying out activities and in their private lives”. Even some grassroots members have been targeted “especially in small places”. They blame “individuals who identify themselves most of the time with the right and far-right”.

Podemos, which is experiencing a period of lower media prominence as it is no longer in government, has in the past experienced moments of very intense harassment. During this period, seven of its offices were vandalised, whilst leaders continue to be the target of permanent insults and threats. A party source emphasises that they have been warning “for a long time” of the need to “confront these reactionary elements, but unfortunately many turned a blind eye”.

The Galician Nationalist Bloc reports three attacks on its offices and says it always “vehemently denounces this type of act, which seeks to intimidate and silence. They have no place in a democratic society, but they will not silence us: in the face of intolerance, we reaffirm our commitment to freedom of expression, the right to political participation and the defence of a free, fair and forward-looking Galicia”, states Lucía López, a leader of the organisation.

Compromís was the target of two attacks with fascist symbols painted and says these “reflect the sense of impunity of those who, based on hatred and intolerance, do not respect the rules of democracy”. EH Bildu saw its Pamplona office painted with Nazi symbols and words against the mayor, but also reports that threats and insults against its leaders are recurrent.

Sumar [11] is not included in the tally because it does not have physical offices in most cities. Even so, they say they are the target of “verbal assaults” and criticise political violence that “is never justified”. Also without having experienced attacks on its offices during this period, unlike during more heated moments of the struggle for Catalan independence, Republican Left of Catalonia [12] also highlights the “harassment” of spokespersons, who in addition to comments and threats on their social networks “have even seen their daily lives disrupted”.

PP minimises violence, Vox attempts to exaggerate it

On the right, the PP says it is only aware of “isolated examples” of this type. In responses to Público, they primarily recall graffiti after the storm in Valencia against Mazón [13], the president of the Generalitat accused of negligence. But just last Tuesday its Castilla-La Mancha office was targeted with Nazi graffiti.

The PNV reports five occasions when its local offices were spray-painted with references such as “ETA” [14] or “Txapote” [15]. The slogan “let Txapote vote for you”, a reference to an imprisoned ETA leader, was used by the PP and the far-right in the context of PSOE negotiations with Basque pro-independence formations for the approval of its budget.

Regarding Vox, the party’s response was to say it suffered “38 attacks on offices” and “74 against information tables”. Asked like all other parties to provide details about these attacks, the party did not respond. The media outlet investigated the incidents and found only ten. They also claim to be the target of a dozen violent assaults “in the absolute silence of the media”, blaming “the radical left” and “separatism”. Público did not confirm these. But even if all the attacks they claim to have suffered were true, they would still be less than 15% of the total.