Podcast Summary: Las 7 de Hoy por Hoy

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy
Host: SER Podcast (Àngels Barceló)
Date: November 28, 2025

Overview

This episode dives into one of the year’s most impactful stories in Spanish politics: the first night in jail for José Luis Ábalos and Koldo García after their arrest on corruption charges. The hosts and collaborators explore the political fallout for the governing Socialist Party (PSOE), implications for parliamentary arithmetic, wider reactions from other political actors, and the broader climate of institutional integrity. The episode also covers regional politics, tech and security updates, quirky viral news, and cultural recommendations, always maintaining an informative and conversational tone.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ábalos and Koldo García’s Imprisonment: Historic and Political Ramifications

• Historic Precedent:
  Ábalos, former third-in-command in the PSOE and key ally of PM Pedro Sánchez, becomes the first active sitting deputy to enter prison since Spain's transition to democracy.

  “El ex número 3 del PSOE se convierte… en el primer diputado en activo ahora, años después que entra en prisión. El primero que entra en prisión todavía en ejercicio en la historia de nuestra democracia.” (00:47)

• Legal Basis:
  Supreme Court justified the remand without bail due to “extreme risk of flight,” specifically to South America.

  “El juez cree que por la cercanía del juicio y por las elevadas penas… el riesgo de fuga es extremo, concretamente a Sudamérica.” (01:09)

• Symbolism and Fallout for the PSOE:

  • Government and PSOE dismiss the personal threats Ábalos made as “acts of desperation,” denying the validity of his claims about information that could damage the executive, including purported links involving Begoña Gómez (PM’s wife) in government bailouts.
  • Diana Morant (Minister):

    “Más que amenazas… me parece una especie de estrategia de la desesperación. Hay tres sinvergüenzas que se aprovecharon del partido.” (01:53)

  • The event delivers a double blow: reputational and practical. With Ábalos holding onto his deputy’s seat even from jail, the government’s fragile majority is threatened.

    “Parece incompatible entrar a la cárcel por corrupción y seguir aquí con el acta de diputado.” (03:39)

• Opposition Reaction (PP):

  • Núñez Feijóo leverages the moment for political protest, organizing an anti-corruption rally near PSOE HQ in Madrid.
  • Harsh language is used:

    “La manzana podrida es él (Sánchez) y ha podrido todo y a todos los que le rodean.” (02:47)

2. Parliamentary Arithmetic: Risks for Government Stability

• Ábalos not surrendering his seat constrains the government further, especially if key alliances (Junts, Esquerra) do not hold.

  “…sin el escaño que ahora ocupa el exministro el Ejecutivo empataría con la derecha con 171 votos…” (03:17)

3. Additional Political Setbacks: Deficit Vote Fails

• On the same day, Congress rejected the government’s budgetary framework, again highlighting the executive’s lack of reliable allies.
• Vice President Montero blames the opposition’s “partisan interests” for harming even their own governed regions to block the government.

  “Por un puro interés partidista deciden votar que no, tirándose piedras contra el tejado de las comunidades autónomas que gobierna el Partido Popular.” (04:35)

4. Ongoing Corruption Accusations

• New accusations involve current minister Ángel Víctor Torres (ex-president of Canarias) tied by entrepreneur Víctor de Aldama to the “mascarillas” contracts.
  • Torres defiantly rejects the allegations, calling them a “farce.”

    “Es una vaca que no da más leche… ¿preocupado? En absoluto. Quizás él sí debe estar muy preocupado porque para él piden decenas de años.” (06:07)

5. Judicial Update: Begoña Gómez's Case

• Six officials from Universidad Complutense de Madrid give evidence as part of the investigation into the Prime Minister’s wife, focusing on her conduct directing a university chair.

6. Regional and Social Issues—Spotlight on Valencia

• Introduction of Juanfran Pérez Llorca as head of the Valencian Government, with points of alignment with far-right Vox:

  • Promises crackdown on undocumented immigrant minors, possible litigation against the central government regarding water projects, and immediate tax cuts.
  • Acceptance of Vox “red lines” in exchange for support, such as anti-immigration policies.

  “De la inmigración es un problema real… Está a tóteles ciutats y a tóteles comunitats.” (07:31)

7. Tech & Security: AI in Cyberdefense

• CNI (Spanish Intelligence) is increasing its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to counteract the growing threat of AI-driven cyberattacks.
  • “De cada diez ciberataques para robar información, ocho cuentan ya con ayuda de la inteligencia artificial.” (09:32)
  • “Ellos van a usar inteligencia artificial para atacarnos y nosotros tenemos que utilizar masivamente inteligencia artificial para defender.” (10:29)

8. Quirky & Viral Spain

• Lanzarote public employees lose Christmas baskets due to a Tribunal de Cuentas ruling deeming them unjustifiable expenses.

• Viral Zaragoza street sign: blends classical music (“Beethoven,” “Schubert”) and video game (“Super Mario Bros,” “Gran Turismo”) street names, result of city’s creative toponymy.

• Two municipalities, Moya (Gran Canaria) and Santiago del Teide (Tenerife), vie for the Guinness record for the world’s longest Christmas nougat (turrón)—with Tenerife’s planned 1,100-meter effort overshadowing Gran Canaria’s 200-meter version.

9. Culture Segment: Film, Theatre, and Documentaries

• Cinema recommendations:

  • La voz de Gin—drama about a Palestinian girl in Gaza.

  • Núremberg—courtroom drama following Nazi trials, starring Russell Crowe and Rami Malek.

    “¿Por qué no los fusilan?”
    “No pienso convertirlos en mártires. No habrá ninguna estatua de ellos.” (15:46-15:48)

  • Theatre: “Blue Moon” with Ethan Hawke, and two Spanish films including Flores para Antonio (documentary by Alba Flores) and Ruido (about freestyle rap battles in Catalonia).

• Highlight: Jaca’s Military Miniature Museum awarded Best Popular Culture Museum by National Geographic for its elaborate dioramas.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “No podemos normalizar la corrupción en nuestras vidas ni en las instituciones.”
  (Periodista, 00:47)

• “Más que amenazas…me parece una especie de estrategia de la desesperación.”
  (Diana Morant, 01:53)

• “La manzana podrida es él y ha podrido todo y a todos los que le rodean.”
  (Analista político, 02:47)

• “Es una vaca que no da más leche…preocupado? En absoluto. Quizás él sí debe estar muy preocupado porque para él piden decenas de años.”
  (Ángel Víctor Torres, 06:07)

• “De cada diez ciberataques para robar información, ocho cuentan ya con ayuda de la inteligencia artificial.”
  (Javier Candau, 09:32)

• “El futuro suena ciencia ficción, pero es muy real… Nos veremos en escenarios donde estén inteligencias artificiales enfrentadas disputándose un campo de batalla...”
  (Enrique Ávila, 09:53)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:12-03:54] Ábalos y Koldo en prisión: contexto, reacciones, impacto político
• [03:54-05:39] Parliamentary arithmetic, failed deficit vote, fragility of government
• [05:39-07:28] New corruption allegations, Torres’ response, Begoña Gómez investigation
• [07:28-08:11] Valencia politics, rise of Pérez Llorca, Vox alliance
• [09:06-10:29] Cybersecurity: AI arms race
• [11:04-14:08] Viral/quirky Spain: Lanzarote’s missing Xmas basket, Zaragoza’s video game streets, turrón battle
• [14:15-15:52] Culture picks: cinema (La voz de Gin, Núremberg), theatre, documentaries

Conclusion

This episode of “Las 7 de Hoy por Hoy” delivers a comprehensive, brisk account of a historic week in Spanish politics, with expertly woven commentary on scandals, legislative fragility, and broader anxieties about institutional health. The program shifts fluidly from high-stakes national news to regional developments, social curiosities, and cultural life, retaining an analytical but accessible tone throughout.