A demonstration in Barcelona dedicated to Spain's national holiday turned into a protest against the government

The political battle in Spain has also spilled over into the country's national holiday. The celebrations did not prevent leaders from hurling attacks and accusations at each other.

Spain celebrated its national holiday with a traditional military parade in Madrid. King Felipe VI, his wife Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia hosted the demonstration, which was attended by more than 3,800 members of the armed forces. But the solemn atmosphere did not prevent booing at Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. It did not stop the leader of the far-right party "Vox" Santiago Abascal refused to stand with the other politicians in the royal gallery, as well as to attend the reception given by the monarch afterwards. His explanation was: "Under no circumstances can we pretend to be normal at a time when a government that is a corrupt mafia is in power". Hours later, Sánchez himself also left the reception immediately after greeting the royal family. No explanation from his team followed.

Against this backdrop, a demonstration in Barcelona dedicated to the holiday turned into a protest against the government. Over 1,000 people marched through the streets of the Catalan capital chanting against the government of Pedro Sánchez.

And in Madrid, two women - activists of the civil movement - threw red paint on the painting "First Homage to Christopher Columbus" in the Naval Museum. Their explanation - there is nothing to celebrate on October 12. They have been arrested and will be brought to trial.

At the end of August, two other activists from the same organization threw red paint at the "Sagrada Familia" in Barcelona.