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Óscar López
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Óscar López

Spain's Minister for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service.

Óscar López said in Madrid on 8 October 2026 that he hopes to approve Spain's data-centre royal decree shortly, before the 29 November general election, with urgent processing to take the text to the Consejo de Ministros.

Last refreshed: 18 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Will Spain approve its data-centre decree before the 29 November election?

Timeline for Óscar López

#16 8 Oct

Spain eyes data-centre rule before poll

Data Centres: Boom and Backlash
View full timeline →

Background

Óscar López has been Spain's Minister for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service since 6 September 2024. From 2021 until then he was chief of staff to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. He has led the Socialist Party (PSOE) in the Community of Madrid since December 2024, and he led its Castile and León branch from 2008 to 2012.

López's ministry owns the data-centre decree. On 8 October 2026 he said the government planned urgent processing to get the text to the Consejo de Ministros and the official gazette before the election. The public consultation drew more than 600 submissions, and López said the final text would take them into account. Ministries were still reconciling a common position; Spain's competition regulator had backed the draft, according to Demócrata, while the Consejo de Estado had yet to give its opinion.

The draft carries an 80% hourly-matched renewables test, which Aragon's regional government called unmeetable when consultation closed in September 2026. If the decree is not approved before the campaign, the government formed after the vote could drop it.

Common Questions
Who is Spain's minister for digital transformation?
Óscar López has been Minister for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service since 6 September 2024.Source: La Moncloa; Wikipedia
When will Spain approve the data centre royal decree?
López said on 8 October 2026 he hopes to approve it shortly, before the 29 November general election, using urgent processing.Source: Demócrata, 8 October 2026
What does Spain's draft data centre decree require?
The draft includes an 80% hourly-matched renewables test, which Aragon's regional government called unmeetable.Source: Lowdown coverage, September 2026
Source Material

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 18 October 2026. Editorial standards.