Spain's AP-9 Highway Transfer Stalls Amid Party Conflict

Spanish Congress approved a law to transfer ownership and management of the AP‑9 highway (Autopista del Atlántico) to the Xunta de Galicia. The agreement, negotiated by PSOE, BNG and Sumar, keeps the state liable for obligations incurred before the handover while the autonomous community will assume future responsibilities.

The deal faces opposition from the PP and Vox, who argue that the text diverges from the version unanimously approved by Galicia's parliament, especially regarding a 1 % annual toll‑increase clause. The PP has labeled the pact a “pact of traitors” and demanded a return to the original wording.

The proposal now proceeds to a full vote in the Congress, requiring an absolute majority (176 votes) before moving to the Senate, where the PP holds a majority. The dispute underscores tensions between national parties and regional authorities over control of toll revenue and infrastructure financing.