The interview
David Broncano said on Tuesday, 10 November, that he regrets how he handled Monday's interview with Vox leader Santiago Abascal on TVE's La Revuelta. Speaking to La Sexta, he said he should have relied more on comedy, as he usually does, and that he felt uncomfortable when the atmosphere became strange. He added that he often thought Abascal was wrong while the Vox leader spoke, but that he did not respond or push back as quickly as he should have. He also regretted allowing the party to choose the studio audience.
Sánchez and the left
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticised Abascal's exchange with Broncano in a post on X that included a clip of the interview. In the clip, Broncano said he would not wish Abascal luck, and Abascal replied that he would, because Broncano was going to need it, before saying it was a joke.
Threatening with a smile is not doing comedy, it is degrading our democracy.
In an interview on La 1 on 22 October, Sánchez had committed to keeping La Revuelta on air if he remains in government after the 29 November general election. Irene Montero, Podemos candidate, said Broncano should not be blamed for the outcome and argued that the real problem was giving Vox airtime. Ada Colau, Frente Amplio candidate, said she would not choose her own audience for her appearance on the programme, which she said would take place on Tuesday. Culture minister Ernest Urtasun called the interview a serious moment in which the right was seen in full splendour.
RTVE and Vox
RTVE president José Pablo López gave Broncano and the programme his full support, saying the interview was surely not the ideal setting for Broncano's talent. TVE's Consejo de Informativos said the change of audience and the loss of humour were serious errors, and that someone should take responsibility. Abascal said Broncano had a difficult time under what he called unacceptable pressure from the left.
He was worried, but not because he feared me.
Vox deputy Manuel Mariscal said the party would enter RTVE with flamethrowers or chainsaws to remove the current management.