CUP Challenges Interior Minister Over Police Checks

The Candidatura d'Unitat Popular (CUP) has demanded urgent answers from the Department of the Interior of the Generalitat regarding what it describes as "indiscriminate identifications of young people, also based on racial profiling" during a police operation in central Barcelona on Saturday 31st October 2026. The regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, and Barcelona’s municipal police, the Guàrdia Urbana, carried out approximately 1,000 identity checks between 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM as part of a security operation linked to the 'Blocus' demonstration.

Call for Parliamentary Appearance

On Friday 30th October, the CUP formally requested that Interior Minister Núria Parlon appear before the Parliament of Catalonia to report on arrests related to disturbances the previous weekend and to clarify the department's communication policies. The party has now extended that demand to include Saturday’s police actions, citing concerns over the criteria used during the identity checks. In a post shared on the social platform 'X' and reported by Europa Press, the CUP called for Parlon to publicly explain the operation.

The CUP has asked for urgent explanations from the Department of the Interior of the Generalitat regarding 'indiscriminate identifications of young people, also based on racial profiling'.

Context of Broader Tensions

This latest call follows ongoing scrutiny of policing practices in Catalonia. The CUP has previously challenged Parlon over the public release of a video showing the detention of a minor during an operation in Vic, underscoring broader concerns about youth treatment and transparency. While the Barcelona City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful assembly, it has also condemned racist and xenophobic rhetoric observed at other recent demonstrations, stressing that such expressions will be referred to judicial authorities. Residents and civil liberties groups are now awaiting a formal response from the Department of the Interior on the basis and scope of Saturday’s identity checks, particularly whether age, appearance, or ethnic background influenced who was stopped. The Mossos d'Esquadra have not yet released detailed demographic data on those identified.

Sources: CatalunyaPress, Ajuntament de Barcelona, catalunyapress.cat, diariosigloxxi.com.