Sánchez backs Broncano on El perro andaluz after the Abascal audience row

Audience row opens the interview

Manu Sánchez opened the programme with a joke about La Revuelta before his guest sat down. He said his team had cancelled the audience invitations for the night and handed the seating to Pedro Sánchez's team, then remarked that the people who turned up were exactly the same. The joke referred to La Revuelta's interview with Santiago Abascal, where invitations for the regular audience were cancelled and Vox had a hand in choosing the spectators. According to David Broncano, the aim was to prevent repeated booing of Abascal. The audience instead applauded the Vox leader and shouted 'presidente!', which drew criticism over how a TVE programme had been filled.

Broncano apology and a message of support

David Broncano apologised to the audience on Tuesday, 10 November, saying he had got both the organisation and the approach of the interview wrong. He also said he had not lived up to what viewers of the public broadcaster expected of him. During the Abascal interview itself, Broncano had questioned the decision, arguing that the constant applause for his guest could suggest backing for opinions that did not reflect the range of views in society. Broncano had also said he did not wish Abascal luck, and Abascal answered that he would need it. Sánchez then wrote on X about that exchange:

“Threatening with a smile is not humour, it degrades our democracy.”

On the programme, Sánchez extended the gesture to his host's colleague on the same channel, telling the studio that he wanted to send Broncano a message of support.

“We are going to send David a hug anyway.”

Manu Sánchez echoed the message, telling Broncano that the programme sent its support and that the presenters admired him now more than ever.

Campaign, strike and policing

The general election on the 29th was called early by Sánchez, who is seeking to stay in the premiership and saw a window of opportunity in the intense debate over the housing crisis. The programme aired in a week marked by a general strike and mobilisations, with the consequences of a railway tragedy still present. Asked who had ordered police charges during the strike, Sánchez said he did not know. He then defended Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, calling him his 'left eye' and saying he was the best interior minister alongside Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba. Manu Sánchez also played a video of Isabel Díaz Ayuso praising Sánchez's appearance.

Huévar buses and the Seville audience

The live broadcast came from the Cartuja Center Cite in Seville on Thursday, 12 November. The council of Huévar del Aljarafe, now governed by the Socialist Israel Álvarez after a recent motion of no confidence against the People's Party's María Eugenia Moreno, offered free bus transport for people wanting to attend. The production company 16 Escalones, hired by TVE for the late-night show, said it pays for the buses it provides to institutions and councils that request them, Huévar included. The council maintained that registration for the audience closed on Friday, 6 November. Older women queuing outside said they had come to listen to and see the guest, and said they had not known about the bus arrangement. A couple said they would have attended regardless because they follow Manu Sánchez, and some attendees wore sweatshirts supporting the Marea Verde movement for public schooling.

Before the interview began, Manu Sánchez insisted the audience had not been manipulated and described it as diverse and free. He said TVE had learned its lesson:

“We have learned the lesson at home.”