A Spanish politician has been shot in the face after he was ambushed in Madrid.

Alejo Vidal-Quadras, 78, the former head of Spain’s People’s Party in the Catalonia region was on Thursday, November 9, police said.

A Civil Protection spokesperson said Vidal-Quadras retained consciousness and was rushed to the nearby Gregorio Marañón hospital, while police are now hunting for two people who fled the scene on a motorbike, with the shooter wearing a black helmet. 

Witnesses described the attacker as a ‘young, small man’ who was wearing jeans and a dark coat and was seemingly waiting for the politician to pass by.

The pair exchanged no words, with the shooter reportedly stepping up and blasting Vidal-Quadras from near point-blank range before hopping onto the motorcycle piloted by an accomplice.  

Hospital staff later confirmed to El Pais that Vidal-Quadras is in a stable condition with a single gunshot wound to the jaw. 

Vidal-Quadras was the head of the centre-right PP in Catalonia and was also the Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2009-2014, when he left the group to join newly created party Vox.

Vox president Santiago Abascal said he believed Mr Vidal-Quadras’ life was not in immediate danger.

‘Thank God it seems that Alejandro Vidal-Quadras is out of danger,’ Mr Abascal said