Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made a surprise appearance in the anniversary episode of the cult satirical program "Polònia" broadcast by Catalan station TV3. The head of government participated in a short sketch, congratulating the creators on two decades on air. The program, which since 2006 has relentlessly parodied the world of politics, celebrated its milestone anniversary on Thursday evening, drawing a record audience to their televisions and revisiting the most iconic moments in the history of Catalan satire.

Prime Minister's Surprise Appearance

Pedro Sánchez appeared in an anniversary sketch, thanking the creators for 20 years of work and emphasizing the importance of freedom of speech.

Impressive Production Legacy

Since 2006, the program has broadcast nearly 800 episodes, parodying over a thousand different figures from public life.

Success of the Satirical Format

The production by Toni Soler remains a ratings leader in Catalonia, despite numerous political upheavals and changes in the media landscape.

Catalan public television TV3 aired a special gala on Thursday evening to mark the 20th anniversary of the program Polònia. The biggest surprise of the evening was a guest appearance by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The head of government used a cameo to convey his wishes to the editorial team and to emphasize the role of humor in public life. The Prime Minister appeared alongside his impersonator, which sparked enthusiastic reactions both in the studio and on social media. This is an unprecedented event, considering the typically tense relations between the central government in Madrid and Catalan public media. Created by Toni Soler, the production debuted on air on February 19, 2006. Over two decades, the program has become a cultural institution, broadcasting nearly 800 episodes. During this time, it has presented over 8,000 sketches and parodied 1,136 figures from the worlds of politics, sports, and culture. During the gala, viewers could revisit the most groundbreaking performances, including numerous musical numbers that have become the show's hallmark. The show's success is a phenomenon on a European scale, as few satirical projects maintain a leading position in the schedule for such a long period, having survived numerous government changes and political crises in Spain. The Polònia program was created during a period of significant political changes in Catalonia, drawing inspiration from classic British political satire, adapted to the specific local context and the dynamics of relations with the central government. „Thank you for proving that humor is fundamental to a healthy democracy and for these twenty years of brilliant satire.” — Pedro Sánchez Both critics and media scholars emphasize that the program has played a key role in making difficult political topics more approachable, including Catalan independence aspirations and numerous corruption scandals. The presence of the sitting Prime Minister at the anniversary gala is interpreted as a signal of a thaw or at least an attempt to build bridges through popular culture. Despite the passing years, Polònia has not lost popularity, regularly attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers to the screen, confirming its status as one of the pillars of TV3's schedule. The anniversary gala not only summarized past achievements but also announced the continuation of the format, which still manages to surprise with its form and courage in commenting on reality. Polònia Program 20-Year Statistics: Episodes Broadcast: 797, Sketches Presented: 8, 396, Musical Numbers: 550, Figures Parodied: 1, 136 20 years — continuous broadcast of the program on TV3

Mentioned People

  • Pedro Sánchez — Prime Minister of Spain, who made a guest appearance in the anniversary episode of the satirical program Polònia.
  • Toni Soler — Creator and producer of the Polònia program on TV3 television.