The move on Wednesday comes as Spain has been one of the European Union’s foremost critics of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and the new war on Iran launched by the United States and Israel.

“At the proposal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, and following deliberation by the Council of Ministers at its meeting on 10 March 2026, I hereby order the termination of Ms Ana María Sálomon Pérez’s appointment as Ambassador of Spain to the State of Israel,” the gazette said.

Spain’s embassy in Tel ⁠Aviv will ⁠be led by a ⁠charge d’affaires, a ⁠source ⁠at the Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters news agency.

The country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is one of the few left-wing leaders in Europe to condemn the US-Israel attack on Iran as “unjustifiable” and said that Madrid’s position was “no to the war”.

Sanchez’s government has also been one of the few European nations to consistently condemn Israel’s action in Gaza. In October, Spain’s parliament approved the enshrinement in law of a total arms embargo on Israel, permanently banning the sale of weapons, dual-use technology and military equipment in response to the genocide .

In a 10-minute televised address, Sánchez reflected on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as the Iraq War more than 20 years ago and said the Spanish government’s position could be summed up as “no to war”.

Trump threatened to impose a full trade embargo on Spain in response to Madrid’s refusal to allow the US to use the jointly-run bases at Morón and Rotafor for strikes on Iran.

“Spain has been terrible,” Trump said during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday.

“We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” he added.

Merz said later he had told Trump very clearly that he could not conclude a separate trade agreement with Germany or all of Europe but not with Spain.

In response to the US economic threat, the Élysée Palace said French President Emmanuel Macron had conveyed his “solidarity” with Spain, during a phone conversation with Sánchez on Wednesday. European Council President António Costa also said he had spoken to the Spanish leader “to express the EU’s full solidarity”.

Trump accused Spain on Tuesday of being a “terrible partner” in Nato for failing to increase its defence budget in line with a target of 5% of economic output (GDP).

Earlier this year Sánchez drew Trump’s anger by speaking out against the US military incursion into Venezuela.

In his televised address from the prime minister’s Madrid residence at La Moncloa on Wednesday, Sánchez said the government was studying economic measures to counter the impact of the conflict on Spaniards, although he avoided directly referring to Trump’s trade threat.

“The question is not if we are on the side of the ayatollahs – nobody is. The question is whether we are in favour of peace and international legality.”

“You cannot answer one illegality with another, because that is how the great catastrophes of humanity begin.”

Spain’s Socialist prime minister explained that the government’s position was comparable to its stance on Ukraine and Gaza. Sánchez has been a vociferous critic of Israel’s military response to the Hamas attacks in 2023.

Spain has been among Europe’s most outspoken governments on Gaza, describing Israel’s actions there as “genocide” and acknowledging a Palestinian state before many other EU members did.

That position was in step with his coalition partners to his left and, broadly speaking, with Spanish attitudes to the Middle East.

Looking back to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, which he said had failed to achieve its goals and had made life worse for ordinary people, he warned that the attacks on Iran could have a similar economic impact for millions.

His reference to the Iraq invasion will connect with many Spanish voters. Spain’s support at the time from the conservative People’s Party (PP) government was deeply unpopular, and triggered mass anti-war protests.

Many believe it also lay the groundwork for the Socialist Party’s surprise election victory in March 2004, days after Madrid was hit by deadly jihadist bombings.

Sánchez reminded Spaniards of the “Azores trio” of then-US President George W. Bush, the UK’s Tony Blair and Spanish conservative leader José María Aznar – who had met on a Spanish base in the region days before the Iraq invasion.

He said they had handed Europeans the “gift” of “a more insecure world and worse life”.

The Spanish leader’s stance contrasts strongly with that of Merz, who told German TV on Tuesday regime change in Iran would leave the world “a little better off”, although he also said this was “not without risk and we would also have to bear the consequences”.

Unlike Spain’s fellow Nato allies – the UK, France and Greece – it has not yet committed to any military involvement in response to the war.

The Spanish prime minister said he wanted to express the solidarity of the Spanish people with countries that had been “illegally attacked by the Iranian regime”.

Aside from the fierce criticism Sánchez is facing from the US, his coalition government has faced months of enormous political pressure, generating constant speculation that its collapse could be imminent.

It has been struggling to maintain its parliamentary majority, which includes an array of left-wing and regional nationalist parties.

Allegations of corruption against several of his allies and his inner circle have severely weakened his position.

In Spain’s deeply polarised politics, much of the support for Sánchez is driven as much by concerns about the country’s right and far right as it is by endorsement of his leadership and policies.

Standing up to the US president may have electoral benefits for the Socialist leader.

A recent poll by the CIS research institute found that 77% of Spaniards had a “bad” or “very bad” opinion of Trump, suggesting that even many right-wing voters might back Sánchez on this issue.

However, there is now uncertainty in Spain over whether Trump’s threats will translate into some form of economic reprisals, and many Spaniards will be watching this drama nervously.

In February, Rubiales was fined €10,800 (£9,052) for that offence but found not guilty of coercion over allegations he pressured Hermoso into publicly saying the kiss was consensual.

Prosecutors have called for Rubiales to be jailed and appealed that verdict, seeking a retrial with a different judge after alleging the original was biased in Rubiales’s favour.

Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips as Spain’s players received their medals for winning the 2023 World Cup.

The incident, which occurred after Spain defeated England in Sydney, was witnessed by millions on television and in the stadium, and triggered protests and calls for Rubiales’s resignation.

The 47-year-old previously said he will appeal against the guilty verdict.

Three of Rubiales’s former colleagues were also accused of colluding in the alleged coercion.

Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)’s former head of marketing, and Albert Luque, former sporting director, were all cleared.

The court’s ruling also banned the former football president from going within a 200m radius of Hermoso or communicating with her for one year.

During the trial, Rubiales told the court he was “absolutely sure” Hermoso had given her consent before he kissed her.

He described the kiss as an “act of affection”, adding that in the moment it was “something completely spontaneous”.

In her testimony, Hermoso insisted she had not given her consent and said the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.

She told the court in Madrid: “My boss was kissing me and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting.”

The incident gave momentum to a Me Too-style movement in the Spanish women’s game, in which players sought to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers.

Rubiales resigned in September 2023 following weeks of resisting pressure to stand down and after he was suspended by Fifa.

Prosecutors first filed a complaint from Hermoso about Rubiales to Spain’s high court in the days prior to his resignation. He was formally charged in early 2024.

The 23-year-old woman called Noelia who wants to end her life is paraplegic due to injuries suffered when she tried to take her own life in 2022.

She has the support of the regional government of Catalonia after a local euthanasia guarantee and evaluation board unanimously supported her decision in July 2024.

Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering. It can be involuntary – for example, if a person is in a coma and unable to give their consent – or voluntary, as in this case.

The woman was due to die in August, but the process was suspended at the last moment due to legal objections raised by her father, with the backing of the campaign group Christian Lawyers (Abogados Cristianos).

“I want to finish with dignity once and for all,” Noelia told the court on Tuesday.

She claimed to have been “coerced” by religious groups and said people had filled a room in the care centre where she was currently living with “small pictures, crosses and religious symbols”.

The Catalan government’s legal representation in the case has stated that “no evidence of a scientific or expert character has been presented to contradict the many medical reports which support the decision [to die].”

However, the woman’s father has argued that she is suffering from a personality disorder which affects her judgement and he has pointed to “the obligation of the state to protect the lives of people, especially the most vulnerable, as is the case with a young person with mental health problems.”

He has also said that she has responded well to rehabilitation treatment.

His legal representation has also claimed that the young woman has changed her mind about undergoing euthanasia several times.

The public prosecutor has not positioned itself with regard to the case, instead calling for the judge to hear the opinions of experts and the woman herself before taking a decision.

Among those also due to testify in court in Barcelona today are a member of the euthanasia board which evaluated her case, a neuro-rehabilitation specialist, and a psychiatric specialist.

A euthanasia law was introduced in Spain in 2021, but this is the first time that a case has gone to court for a judge to decide.

Last year, a magistrate in Barcelona rejected an attempt by a man to appeal against his 54-year-old son’s euthanasia after it had been approved by the guarantee and evaluation board.

He was acquitted of coercion, for allegedly trying to pressure Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual.

As Spain’s players received their medals after defeating England in Sydney to win the 2023 World Cup, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips.

The incident triggered protests and calls forthe resignation of Rubiales, who has said he will appeal against the verdict.

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The ruling also banned Rubiales from going within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year, the court said in a statement.

Three of Rubiales’s former colleagues who were also on trial, accused of colluding in the alleged coercion – Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)’s former head of marketing, and Albert Luque, former sporting director – were cleared of those charges.

Prosecutors had demanded a prison sentence for Rubiales, who last week told a court he was “absolutely sure” Hermoso had given her consent before he kissed her.

He described the kiss as an “act of affection”, adding that in the moment it was “something completely spontaneous”.

In her testimony earlier this month, Hermoso insisted that she had not given Rubiales permission and that the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.

Rubiales was accused of sexual assault and of trying to coerce Hermoso into saying the kiss had been consensual.

The incident was witnessed by millions of television viewers and an entire stadium after the Spanish women’s team won the 2023 World Cup.

The ensuing uproar gave momentum to a “Me Too”-style movement in the Spanish women’s game, in which players sought to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers.

Rubiales resigned in September 2023 following weeks of resisting pressure to stand down, and after Fifa suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation.

The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is on trial accused of sexual assault and attempting to coerce Ms Hermoso into publicly saying the kiss had been consensual.

Giving evidence, Mr Rubiales, 47, said the kiss was an “act of affection”, adding that in the moment it was “something completely spontaneous”.

The incident occurred during the medal-giving ceremony after Spain’s World Cup win in Australia, triggering protests and calls for Mr Rubiales’s resignation. He denies any criminal wrongdoing.

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Mr Rubiales told Spain’s National Court in Madrid on Tuesday that Hermoso had “embraced” him during the ceremony.

“I’ve known her for many years and I kissed her because she was a champion. This was a tremendous moment for her,” he said.

“We were champions, we were thanking each other. She pressed me very hard by the waist and then I asked her whether I could give her a kiss and she said yes.”

He added: “I took hold of her so as not to fall back.”

Mr Rubiales was questioned over whether he asked Ms Hermoso for a kiss or a “little kiss”.

“I can’t remember exactly,” he replied. “But I think it was a little kiss.”

Prosecutor Marta Durantiez repeated: “Did you tell her kiss or kiss on the lips?”

Mr Rubiales responded: “At that moment I did not remember but it is obvious that I said kiss. There are synonyms.”

Asked whether he normally kissed people on the lips, Rubiales told the court he felt the occasion and the fact he had known Hermoso for a long time warranted it.

He added he would act similarly with a male player, or one of his daughters during New Year celebrations.

He was also asked if he was aware of the protocol against sexual harassment and sexual violence, to which he replied he was aware of it.

A lip reading expert – called to testify by Mr Rubiales’s legal team – told the court that, based on video footage he had anaylsed, the former football boss had asked Ms Hermoso”can I give you a kiss?” but that her response was not visible.

The lip reader also acknowledged that he only analysed a video published on TikTok, and was unable to specify who it belonged to.

A second expert, also called by Mr Rubiales’s team, claimed the video had not been modified in any way.

According to Spanish media, Ms Hermoso’s lawyer asked the lip reader could distinguish between the words “kiss, peck, pretty or little”.

“Yes, there would be a difference,” he clarified.

In her testimony last week, Ms Hermoso insisted that she had not given Mr Rubiales permission and that the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.

She previously told the court: “My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting.”

The Spain forward added: “A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so.”

Ms Hermoso said she was pulled aside soon after the kiss and asked to consent to a statement minimising the incident, which she refused to do.

Mr Rubiales then asked her to record a video with him on the flight home because he was being accused of assault on social media, she told the court. She said she had received death threats which prompted her to move her family to Mexico, where she now plays.

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Mr Rubiales conceded he had “made a mistake” on the podium and that his behaviour “was not appropriate”, saying he should have “been in a more institutional role”, but denied any offence had been committed.

He said the media attention the incident has attracted was “ridiculous”, adding that Ms Hermoso never reprimanded him over the kiss at any point in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

The incident was witnessed by millions of television viewers and an entire stadium after the Spanish women’s team won the 2023 World Cup.

The ensuing uproar gave momentum to a “Me Too”-style movement in the Spanish women’s game, in which players sought to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers.

Mr Rubiales resigned in September 2023 following weeks of resisting pressure to stand down, and after Fifa suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation.

Mr Rubiales has also denied that he sent someone to speak to Ms Hermoso’s family in an attempt to get her to agree to make a video with him to assuage the public outcry.

Three of his former colleagues are also on trial accused of colluding in the alleged coercion: Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, RFEF’s former head of marketing, and former sporting director, Albert Luque.

They each face more than a year in prison for allegedly pressuring Ms Hermoso to say that the kiss was consensual. All deny the charges.

Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-half year jail term for Mr Rubiales. The trial, which runs until 19 February, continues.

Luis Rubiales has told a court he is “absolutely sure” Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso gave her consent before he kissed her at the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is on trial accused of sexual assault and attempting to coerce Ms Hermoso into publicly saying the kiss had been consensual.Giving evidence, Mr Rubiales, 47, said the kiss was an “act of affection”, adding that in the moment it was “something completely spontaneous”.The incident occurred during the medal-giving ceremony after Spain’s World Cup win in Australia, triggering protests and calls for Mr Rubiales’s resignation. He denies any criminal wrongdoing.Mr Rubiales told Spain’s National Court in Madrid on Tuesday that Hermoso had “embraced” him during the ceremony.”I’ve known her for many years and I kissed her because she was a champion. This was a tremendous moment for her,” he said.”We were champions, we were thanking each other. She pressed me very hard by the waist and then I asked her whether I could give her a kiss and she said yes.”He added: “I took hold of her so as not to fall back.”Mr Rubiales was questioned over whether he asked Ms Hermoso for a kiss or a “little kiss”.”I can’t remember exactly,” he replied. “But I think it was a little kiss.”Prosecutor Marta Durantiez repeated: “Did you tell her kiss or kiss on the lips?”Mr Rubiales responded: “At that moment I did not remember but it is obvious that I said kiss. There are synonyms.”Asked whether he normally kissed people on the lips, Rubiales told the court he felt the occasion and the fact he had known Hermoso for a long time warranted it.He added he would act similarly with a male player, or one of his daughters during New Year celebrations.He was also asked if he was aware of the protocol against sexual harassment and sexual violence, to which he replied he was aware of it.Reuters Jenni Hermoso looks down outside the court. She has long black hair slicked into a high pony tail and wears a double breasted black coat and black turtle neckReutersJenni Hermoso testified on days one of Rubiales’ trialA lip reading expert – called to testify by Mr Rubiales’s legal team – told the court that, based on video footage he had anaylsed, the former football boss had asked Ms Hermoso “can I give you a kiss?” but that her response was not visible.The lip reader also acknowledged that he only analysed a video published on TikTok, and was unable to specify who it belonged to.A second expert, also called by Mr Rubiales’s team, claimed the video had not been modified in any way.According to Spanish media, Ms Hermoso’s lawyer asked the lip reader could distinguish between the words “kiss, peck, pretty or little”.”Yes, there would be a difference,” he clarified.In her testimony last week, Ms Hermoso insisted that she had not given Mr Rubiales permission and that the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.She previously told the court: “My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting.”The Spain forward added: “A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so.”Ms Hermoso said she was pulled aside soon after the kiss and asked to consent to a statement minimising the incident, which she refused to do.Mr Rubiales then asked her to record a video with him on the flight home because he was being accused of assault on social media, she told the court. She said she had received death threats which prompted her to move her family to Mexico, where she now plays.EPA Luis Rubiales stands between two police guardsEPAMr Rubiales conceded he had “made a mistake” on the podium and that his behaviour “was not appropriate”, saying he should have “been in a more institutional role”, but denied any offence had been committed.He said the media attention the incident has attracted was “ridiculous”, adding that Ms Hermoso never reprimanded him over the kiss at any point in the immediate aftermath of the incident.The incident was witnessed by millions of television viewers and an entire stadium after the Spanish women’s team won the 2023 World Cup.The ensuing uproar gave momentum to a “Me Too”-style movement in the Spanish women’s game, in which players sought to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers.Mr Rubiales resigned in September 2023 following weeks of resisting pressure to stand down, and after Fifa suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation.Mr Rubiales has also denied that he sent someone to speak to Ms Hermoso’s family in an attempt to get her to agree to make a video with him to assuage the public outcry.Three of his former colleagues are also on trial accused of colluding in the alleged coercion: Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, RFEF’s former head of marketing, and former sporting director, Albert Luque.They each face more than a year in prison for allegedly pressuring Ms Hermoso to say that the kiss was consensual. All deny the charges.Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-half year jail term for Mr Rubiales. The trial, which runs until 19 February, continues.

The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is on trial accused of sexual assault and attempting to coerce Ms Hermoso into publicly saying the kiss had been consensual.

Giving evidence, Mr Rubiales, 47, said the kiss was an “act of affection”, adding that in the moment it was “something completely spontaneous”.

The incident occurred during the medal-giving ceremony after Spain’s World Cup win in Australia, triggering protests and calls for Mr Rubiales’s resignation. He denies any criminal wrongdoing.

Mr Rubiales told Spain’s National Court in Madrid on Tuesday that Hermoso had “embraced” him during the ceremony.

“I’ve known her for many years and I kissed her because she was a champion. This was a tremendous moment for her,” he said.

“We were champions, we were thanking each other. She pressed me very hard by the waist and then I asked her whether I could give her a kiss and she said yes.”

He added: “I took hold of her so as not to fall back.”

Mr Rubiales was questioned over whether he asked Ms Hermoso for a kiss or a “little kiss”.

“I can’t remember exactly,” he replied. “But I think it was a little kiss.”

Prosecutor Marta Durantiez repeated: “Did you tell her kiss or kiss on the lips?”

Mr Rubiales responded: “At that moment I did not remember but it is obvious that I said kiss. There are synonyms.”

Asked whether he normally kissed people on the lips, Rubiales told the court he felt the occasion and the fact he had known Hermoso for a long time warranted it.

He added he would act similarly with a male player, or one of his daughters during New Year celebrations.

He was also asked if he was aware of the protocol against sexual harassment and sexual violence, to which he replied he was aware of it.

A lip reading expert – called to testify by Mr Rubiales’s legal team – told the court that, based on video footage he had anaylsed, the former football boss had asked Ms Hermoso”can I give you a kiss?” but that her response was not visible.

The lip reader also acknowledged that he only analysed a video published on TikTok, and was unable to specify who it belonged to.

A second expert, also called by Mr Rubiales’s team, claimed the video had not been modified in any way.

According to Spanish media, Ms Hermoso’s lawyer asked the lip reader could distinguish between the words “kiss, peck, pretty or little”.

“Yes, there would be a difference,” he clarified.

In her testimony last week, Ms Hermoso insisted that she had not given Mr Rubiales permission and that the incident had “stained one of the happiest days of my life”.

She previously told the court: “My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting.”

The Spain forward added: “A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so.”

Ms Hermoso said she was pulled aside soon after the kiss and asked to consent to a statement minimising the incident, which she refused to do.

Mr Rubiales then asked her to record a video with him on the flight home because he was being accused of assault on social media, she told the court. She said she had received death threats which prompted her to move her family to Mexico, where she now plays.

Mr Rubiales conceded he had “made a mistake” on the podium and that his behaviour “was not appropriate”, saying he should have “been in a more institutional role”, but denied any offence had been committed.

He said the media attention the incident has attracted was “ridiculous”, adding that Ms Hermoso never reprimanded him over the kiss at any point in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

The incident was witnessed by millions of television viewers and an entire stadium after the Spanish women’s team won the 2023 World Cup.

The ensuing uproar gave momentum to a “Me Too”-style movement in the Spanish women’s game, in which players sought to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers.

Mr Rubiales resigned in September 2023 following weeks of resisting pressure to stand down, and after Fifa suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation.

Mr Rubiales has also denied that he sent someone to speak to Ms Hermoso’s family in an attempt to get her to agree to make a video with him to assuage the public outcry.

Three of his former colleagues are also on trial accused of colluding in the alleged coercion: Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, RFEF’s former head of marketing, and former sporting director, Albert Luque.

They each face more than a year in prison for allegedly pressuring Ms Hermoso to say that the kiss was consensual. All deny the charges.

Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-half year jail term for Mr Rubiales. The trial, which runs until 19 February, continues.

Many of the visitors are Spanish, but there are also people from other European countries, Asians and Latin Americans, all drawn by Segovia’s historic charm, gastronomy and dramatic location just beyond the mountains north of Madrid.

“There was a moment during Covid when I thought ‘maybe tourism will never, ever be like it was before’,” says Elena Mirón, a local guide dressed in a fuchsia-coloured beret who is about to lead a group across the city.

“But now things are very good and I feel this year is going to be a good year, like 2023 and 2024. I’m happy, because I can live off this job I love.”

Spain received a record 94 million visitors in 2024 and is now vying with France, which saw 100 million, to be the world’s biggest foreign tourist hub.

And the tourism industry’s post-Covid expansion is a major reason why the eurozone’s fourth-biggest economy has been easily outgrowing the likes of Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom, posting an increase in GDP of 3.2% last year.

By contrast, the German economy contracted by 0.2% in 2024, while France grew by 1.1%, Italy by 0.5%, and the UK by an expected 0.9%.

This all helps explain why the Economist magazine has ranked Spain as the world’s best-performing economy.

“The Spanish model is successful because it is a balanced model, and this is what guarantees the sustainability of growth,” says Carlos Cuerpo, the business minister in the Socialist-led coalition government. He points out that Spain was responsible for 40% of eurozone growth last year.

Although he underlined the importance of tourism, Mr Cuerpo also pointed to financial services, technology, and investment as factors which have helped Spain bounce back from the depths of the pandemic, when GDP shrank by 11% in one year.

“We are getting out of Covid without scars and by modernising our economy and therefore lifting our potential GDP growth,” he adds.

That modernisation process is being aided by post-pandemic recovery funds from the EU’s Next Generation programme. Spain is due to receive up to €163bn by 2026 ($169bn; £136bn), making it the biggest recipient of these funds alongside Italy.

Spain is investing the money in the national rail system, low-emissions zones in towns and cities, as well as in the electric vehicle industry and subsidies for small businesses.

“Public spending has been high, and is responsible for approximately half our growth since the pandemic,” says María Jesús Valdemoros, lecturer in economics at Spain’s IESE Business School.

Other major European economies have seen their growth stymied by their greater reliance than Spain on industry, which, she says, “is suffering a lot at the moment due to factors such as the high cost of energy, competition from China and other Asian countries, the cost of the transition to a more sustainable environmental model and trade protectionism”.

Since Covid, the other major economic challenge for Spain has been the cost-of-living crisis triggered by supply-chain bottlenecks and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Inflation peaked at an annual rate of 11% in July of that year, with energy prices hitting Spaniards particularly hard, but by the end of 2024 it had fallen back to 2.8%.

Madrid believes that subsidies it introduced to cut the cost of fuel consumption and encourage public transport use were key in mitigating the impact of the energy price rises, as well as several increases to the minimum wage.

At the height of the European energy crisis, Spain and Portugal also negotiated with Brussels a so-called “Iberian exception”, allowing them to cap the price of gas used to generate electricity in order to reduce consumers’ bills.

Mr Cuerpo argues that such measures have helped counter Spain’s traditional vulnerability to economic turmoil.

“Spain is proving to be more resilient to successive shocks – including the inflation shock that came with the war in Ukraine,” he said. “And I think this is part of the overall protective shield that we have put in place for our consumers and for our firms.”

The country’s green energy output is seen as another favourable factor, not just in guaranteeing electricity, but also spurring investment. Spain has the second-largest renewable energy infrastructure in the EU.

The latter is a boon for a country that is Europe’s second-biggest car producer, according to Wayne Griffiths, the British-born CEO of Seat and Cupra. Although Spanish electric vehicle production is lagging behind the rest of Europe, he sees enormous potential in that area.

“[In Spain] we have all the factors you need to be successful: competitive, well-trained people and also an energy policy behind that,” he says. “There’s no point in making zero-emission cars if you’re using dirty energy.”

Despite these positives, a longstanding weakness of Spain’s economy has been a chronically high jobless rate, which is the biggest in the EU and almost double the block’s average. However, the situation did improve in the last quarter of 2024, when the Spanish jobless unemployment rate declined to 10.6%, its lowest level since 2008.

Meanwhile the number of people in employment in Spain now stands at 22 million, a record high. A labour reform, encouraging job stability, is seen as a key reason for this.

This reform increased restrictions on the use of temporary contracts by companies, favouring greater flexibility in the use of permanent contracts. It has reduced the number of workers in temporary employment without hindering job creation.

Also, although the arrival of immigrants has driven a fierce political debate, their absorption into the labour market is seen by many as crucial for a country with a rapidly ageing population.

The Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has been outspoken in underlining the need for immigrants, describing their contribution to the economy as “fundamental”.

The European Commission has forecast that Spain will continue to lead growth among the bloc’s big economies this year and remain ahead of the EU average. However, challenges are looming on the horizon.

The heavy reliance on tourism – and a growing backlash against the industry by local people – is one concern.

Another is Spain’s vast public debt, which is higher than the country’s annual economic output.

María Jesús Valdemoros warns that this is “an imbalance that we need to correct, not just because the EU’s new fiscal norms demand it, but because it could cause financial instability”.

In addition, a housing crisis has erupted across the country, leaving millions of Spaniards struggling to find affordable accommodation.

With an uncertain and deeply polarised political landscape, it is difficult for Sánchez’s minority government to tackle such problems. But, while it attempts to resolve these conundrums, Spain is enjoying its status as the motor of European growth.

Her teammates Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, and Alexia Putellas appeared at the trial of Mr Rubiales in Madrid on Thursday, where he is accused of sexual assault and coercion.

Ms Putellas said Ms Hermoso had felt “overwhelmed” after the incident, while Ms Codina said she was “sad” and “not enjoying herself”.

Mr Rubiales kissed Ms Hermoso on the lips during the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Australia, triggering protests and calls for his resignation. He denies any wrongdoing.

Ms Hermoso had told the court on Monday she had never given permission to be kissed at the World Cup medal ceremony and felt “disrespected” as a woman.

Ms Putellas said she thought at the time the incident had been something “fortuitous” and a “misunderstanding” but Ms Hermoso then later showed her a video and said she did not know how it occurred to Mr Rubiales to kiss her, according to local Spanish media.

The court heard from Ms Paredes that while on the bus to the airport after the World Cup final, she told her teammates to stop making jokes about the incident, saying it was “serious”.

Ms Putellas said that Ms Hermoso was “overwhelmed” on the plane back to Spain.

“She started crying from exhaustion,” the Barcelona player added.

The 31-year-old said Ms Hermoso was asked to speak to Mr Rubiales on the plane who told her that she should “come out” and “deny that there was no consent” in the kiss.

“She was angry and she said that there was no need for him to explain the facts to her because she had experienced it, that she wasn’t going to do that,” Ms Putellas said.

Ms Codina told the trial that during the team’s celebratory trip to the Spanish island of Ibiza, Ms Hermoso was “sad, she was not enjoying herself, far from it” even though it “should have been the best moment” of her life

1:00Hermoso ‘told teammate Rubiales asked her to lie about kiss’

Three colleagues of Mr Rubiales are also on trial, accused of colluding in the alleged coercion: Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, the federation’s former head of marketing, and former sporting director, Albert Luque. They all deny the charges.

On Wednesday, the court heard that Mr Vilda spoke to Rafael Hermoso – brother of Jenni Hermoso – on the flight back to Spain, telling him that Mr Rubiales feared for his position, according to local Spanish media.

Mr Vilda asked him to speak to his sister about her making a video with Ms Rubiales that would downplay the kiss.

The coach warned that his sister could face “professional and personal consequences” if she did not cooperate, Rafael Hermoso said.

Speaking in court on Monday, Ms Hermoso said she and the then-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation hugged and celebrated at the football event, saying that he then grabbed her “by the ears and kiss[ed] me on the mouth”.

“I didn’t hear or understand anything,” she said, adding that “a kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so”.

The footballer said she felt “completely abandoned by the federation”.

Prosecutors are calling for Mr Rubiales to receive a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault for the kiss.

They are also calling for him to be given a sentence of a year-and-a-half for coercion, for allegedly trying to pressure Ms Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual.

Mr Rubiales denies the charges. The trial continues.

The Spanish world champion footballer was the first witness in Rubiales’ trial over the kiss, where he is accused of sexual assault and coercion.

She told the court in Madrid: “My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn’t happen in any social or work setting.”

Rubiales sparked major controversy when he kissed the athlete on the lips during the medal ceremony for the side’s World Cup victory in Australia, triggering protests and calls for his resignation. He denies any wrongdoing.

Hermoso told the court that she had never given permission to be kissed and felt “disrespected” as a woman.

“I greeted the queen, I greeted her daughter. The next thing was meeting Rubiales.”

Hermoso said she and the then-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation hugged and celebrated.

“The next thing he did was to grab me by the ears and kiss me on the mouth.”

“I didn’t hear or understand anything,” she said.

She went on: “A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so”.

“No one came to ask me how I was” after the kiss, she told the trial on Monday.

The footballer said she felt “completely abandoned by the federation”.

She continued to celebrate “the greatest achievement” of her life with her teammates, Hermoso explained.

“There was no place for me to be crying or lying in the corner of the dressing room.”

The other players initially made fun of the incident before one, Irene Paredes, intervened to say: “Stop, this is serious.”

Hermoso said she was pulled aside soon after the kiss and asked to consent to a statement minimising the incident, which she refused to do.

She added that Rubiales asked her to record a video with him on the flight home because he was being accused of assault on social media.

“I said no, that I was not going to do anything, that I was not the cause of this.”

She said people were huddled around Rubiales during the flight, and that she saw his daughters crying.

The footballer said her life had been “on stand-by” until the trial began on Monday.

She said she had received death threats that prompted her to leave Madrid with her family. She now plays club football in Mexico, as well as for Spain’s national team.

Prosecutors are calling for Rubiales, 47, to receive a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault.

They are also calling for him to be given a sentence of a year-and-a-half for coercion, for allegedly trying to pressure Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual.

Rubiales denies the charges.

At the time, Rubiales said the kiss had been consensual and denounced a so-called witch-hunt by “fake feminism,” before resigning from his position.

Three of his former colleagues are also on trial accused of coercing Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.

Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, the federation’s former head of marketing, and former sporting director, Albert Luque all deny the charges.

The trial runs until 19 February.

Hermoso is scheduled to appear as a witness on the opening day having travelled from Mexico, where she plays club football. The trial runs until 19 February.

As Spain’s players received their medals after defeating England in Sydney to win the 2023 World Cup, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips. Afterwards, Hermoso said the kiss had not been consensual, while Rubiales insisted it had been.

The incident triggered protests and calls for Rubiales’s resignation, and it also entered the political arena. Prime minister Pedro Sánchez, whose left-wing government has approved reforms seeking to boost gender equality and ensure consent in sexual relations, said that Rubiales’s kiss had shown that “there is still a long way to go when it comes to equality and respect between women and men”.

After initially remaining defiant and denouncing a witch-hunt driven by “fake feminism”, the federation president eventually resigned, before legal charges were brought against him.

Prosecutors are calling for Rubiales to receive a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault for the kiss. They are also calling for him to be given a sentence of a year-and-a-half for coercion, for allegedly trying to pressure Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual. Rubiales denies the charges.

Three colleagues of Rubiales are also on trial, accused of colluding in the alleged coercion: Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, the federation’s former head of marketing, and former sporting director, Albert Luque. They all deny the charges.

Isabel Fuentes has watched the female national team closely ever since she was among the first women to represent Spain at football, from 1971 onwards. She describes the furore caused by the Rubiales kiss as “very sad”, because of how it overshadowed the World Cup victory, which, when mentioned, brings her to the verge of tears.

“It was something we would have liked to experience, but we weren’t allowed to,” she says. “These players won it for us. They have lived out our dreams.”

Fuentes played when the dictatorship of Francisco Franco was still in place and the women’s team were not even allowed to wear the Spanish flag on their shirts.

“The regime said: ‘We don’t want you to play football, but we’ll just ignore you,'” she says. “And the federation put all manner of obstacles in our way.”

Like many fans, she was concerned by how the Rubiales controversy affected the international image of Spanish football and she was also shocked by footage showing the former federation president celebrating the World Cup win by grabbing his crotch as he stood just a few feet away from Spain’s Queen Letizia.

But younger players, like Belén Peralta, prefer to emphasise how far women’s football has come, rather than dwell on the Rubiales case. Playing for third-division side Olimpia Las Rozas, Peralta says that even in the last few years she has noticed a shift in terms of the attention and support that women’s football receives.

“When I was younger, girls playing football was kind of strange, you were told, ‘Oh, that’s for boys,’ or ‘That’s not a girl’s thing,'” she says. “And nowadays, you go to some places and you say, ‘I’m a footballer,’ and that’s so cool and attractive.”

Her teammate, Andrea Rodríguez, agrees. Although she says that occasionally she might hear sexist comments about women’s football, social attitudes are overwhelmingly positive.

“People are more open-minded now,” she says.