Europe

Enough Is Enough Withdraws from Government as MarBlau Crisis Escalates

Departure of 33 MPs leaves Common Sense governing alone with 85 seats as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Xavier García Albiol

BARCELONA · 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 · 22:14

Senior Enough Is Enough officials leave party headquarters in Barcelona following an emergency meeting on Monday evening.

Enough Is Enough has withdrawn from the government of Prime Minister Xavier García Albiol, bringing an end to the three-party coalition formed after the 2023 election and leaving Common Sense to govern alone with 85 seats in the 250-member National Assembly.

The decision was announced late on Monday following an emergency meeting of the EIE leadership. The meeting was called after Ratpenat withdrew its 12 MPs from the governing coalition earlier in the day over the government's handling of the proposed Cala Verda development in Valencia.

Previously: Ratpenat Withdraws from Government as MarBlau Crisis Deepens

EIE said all 33 of its members of the National Assembly would leave the coalition with immediate effect. Ministers belonging to the party are also expected to submit their resignations.

The party said that the resignation of Development Minister Jordi Casals and the subsequent withdrawal of Ratpenat had failed to resolve broader concerns surrounding the government's handling of the MarBlau affair.

"The questions raised over recent days concern more than the conduct of a single minister. They concern the integrity of the decision-making process and the responsibility of the government as a whole.

Under the present circumstances, Enough Is Enough can no longer participate in this government."

EIE called for an independent investigation into the approval process surrounding Cala Verda and for records of relevant meetings and communications between government officials and representatives of the MarBlau Group to be made public.

The party did not say whether its MPs would support a motion of no confidence against Albiol.

Coalition collapses within hours

EIE's departure completes the collapse of the parliamentary coalition that has governed Greater Catalunya since the 2023 election.

The government began Monday with 130 seats. Ratpenat's withdrawal during the afternoon reduced the coalition to 118, removing its parliamentary majority. EIE's departure hours later leaves Common Sense as the sole remaining governing party, 41 seats short of the 126 required for a majority.

The Prime Minister's Office issued a brief statement following EIE's announcement, saying Albiol respected the party's decision and would meet senior Common Sense officials overnight.

Albiol has rejected allegations that his government sought to conceal information relating to MarBlau and has resisted opposition calls for his resignation.

Prime Minister Xavier García Albiol has resisted calls to resign since the beginning of the MarBlau crisis.

The Septemberist Social Party and Roses called on the Prime Minister to seek a new parliamentary mandate following the collapse of the coalition. Other opposition parties have renewed calls for an independent investigation into the affair.

From Casals to government crisis

The MarBlau affair began with reports of previously undeclared meetings between Development Minister Jordi Casals and MarBlau chief executive Arnau Vilanova i Serra.

Earlier: Undeclared Meetings Raise Questions Over Government's Relationship With MarBlau

Attention subsequently turned to the proposed Cala Verda resort in Valencia. Originally presented in 2022 as an approximately €80 million development with around 280 rooms, later plans expanded the project to more than €200 million and over 600 rooms alongside luxury residential, conference and leisure facilities.

Leaked communications between Casals and Vilanova intensified the controversy. In one exchange concerning possible opposition from Valencian authorities, Vilanova asked whether Valencia would object. Casals replied: "They always do. Barcelona will approve it."

Related: Leaked Messages Intensify Scrutiny of Casals and MarBlau

Casals resigned following publication of the messages, saying his continued presence in government had become a distraction.

Related: Casals Resigns as MarBlau Crisis Deepens

The controversy subsequently developed into a broader dispute over the relationship between the national government and Valencian institutions. Ratpenat leader Clara Ferrís said on Monday that the affair concerned whether Valencia had been treated as "a partner within Greater Catalunya or as an obstacle to be overcome."

Within hours of Ratpenat's departure, EIE began the emergency meeting that ultimately resulted in its own withdrawal.

Albiol to address country

EIE's withdrawal leaves the Albiol government without an obvious route to restoring its parliamentary majority.

Common Sense remains the largest individual party in the National Assembly, but its 85 MPs account for barely one-third of the chamber. Any attempt to continue governing would require extensive support from opposition parties.

The Prime Minister's Office said Albiol would address the country on Tuesday morning.

It did not say whether he would seek a confidence vote, resign as Prime Minister or request the dissolution of the National Assembly.

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