Afra Blanco Wikipedia: age, biography, children, partner… all about the trade unionist

If you have arrived here, it is because you have seen Afra Blanco in some political discussion and wondered: who is this woman who doesn't keep quiet even underwater? Don't worry, you are not alone. The Barcelona trade unionist has become one of the most recognisable faces of Spanish television, and searches about her personal and professional life continue to grow. Here you will find everything that is known (and what is not) about her: from her age and biography to her partner, her children, and those controversies that make her trend every Saturday night.

Who is Afra Blanco Rodríguez

Afra Blanco Rodríguez was born in Barcelona in 1987 and is currently 38 years old. Although she grew up in the Catalan capital, her family roots are in Galicia, specifically in the Concello de Quiroga, in the province of Lugo, where her family has a house. This is a fact she has shared publicly on more than one occasion, especially when wildfires have affected that area.

Her professional career is deeply linked to trade unionism and the defence of labour rights, although her popularity has exploded thanks to her television appearances. She is one of those people who, whether you like what she says or not, you recognise has very clear ideas and does not hesitate to express them.

Blanco began her activism from a very young age within the General Union of Workers (UGT), where she served as spokesperson for AVALOT, the youth section of the organisation in Catalonia. Over time, she took on greater responsibilities until she became Communication Manager of the State Federation of Services, Mobility and Consumption (FeSMC-UGT). She also worked with the Council of Youth of Catalonia, consolidating a profile focused on the labour concerns of young people.

Does Afra Blanco have a Wikipedia page?

It is one of the most searched questions on Google and the answer is clear: no, Afra Blanco does not have a profile on Wikipedia. Despite her growing media notoriety, the collaborative encyclopedia does not have a dedicated article about her. This does not mean she lacks relevance; simply, Wikipedia has its own notability criteria and, to date, no official entry about the trade unionist has been created or validated.

It is likely that, given the pace at which her public presence is growing, this profile will eventually exist. But for now, if you want to know about her, you will have to search in media outlets and articles like this one.

Age and personal data of Afra Blanco

Let’s gather the basic data that many people quickly search for about her:

Full name: Afra Blanco Rodríguez Date of birth: 1987 Current age: 38 years Place of birth: Barcelona Family roots: Concello de Quiroga, Lugo (Galicia) Profession: Trade unionist, Communication Manager of FeSMC-UGT and television commentator Instagram: @afrablancorodriguez (private account)

The 2015 protest that put her on the map

Before you knew her from her television debates, Afra Blanco already knew perfectly how to draw attention to the causes she defends. And she did it in a way that, certainly, no one forgot.

In the summer of 2015, along with three colleagues from AVALOT, she staged a protest that garnered a lot of attention: they stripped naked in front of the General Treasury of Social Security in Barcelona. They painted the slogan “It’s not balls” on their torsos to denounce that the pension system did not recognise years of Vocational Training and university degrees in contributions.

Her argument was as simple as it was compelling: young people entered the labour market at 30 years old, making it impossible to receive 100% of the pension at 65. A demand that, by the way, remains quite relevant. Afra then called for a medium degree of Vocational Training to count as one year of contributions and a higher degree to count as two.

The action had considerable media repercussions and was one of the first moments when her name began to resonate outside the strictly trade union sphere.

Her leap to television

The beginnings at TV3

The turning point in Afra's media career came in 2017, when she began collaborating on Més 324, a programme on the 3/24 channel of the Catalan public television TV3. She also participated in Catalunya Ràdio, expanding her presence in the Catalan regional media.

It was precisely in Més 324 where she had her first television controversy: she referred to Inés Arrimadas, then leader of the opposition in the Catalan Parliament, with the term “miss”. The comment generated discomfort among both the collaborators and the programme's presenter. At that moment, Blanco was attacking Ciudadanos, whom she accused of having an electoral programme full of “falsehoods and contradictions”.

The conquest of Atresmedia

Shortly after, Afra made the jump to national television and became a regular collaborator of the Atresmedia group. Her appearances on three key programmes catapulted her into the media spotlight:

Espejo Público (Antena 3), where she has shared a debate table with Susanna Griso and has had memorable clashes with commentators like Daniel Lacalle or Mariló Montero.

Al Rojo Vivo (laSexta), the programme of Antonio García Ferreras, where her political and labour analyses have given her enormous visibility during the week.

laSexta Xplica, hosted by José Yélamo, where she has established herself as one of the most controversial and talked-about voices on the television schedule. She is part of the so-called “Grada de Xplicadores” and her interventions on Saturday nights often become trending on social media.

The trade unionist has also made appearances on En boca de todos (Cuatro), the programme hosted by Diego Losada. It was there that she showed a much more personal side when she could not hold back tears while watching images of a wildfire that devastated the Concello de Quiroga, where her family has a house. “Let’s take care of our forests and invest in the human resources that forest workers need”, she requested, visibly emotional.

Most notable controversies and debates

If there is one thing that defines Afra Blanco, it is that she does not shy away from conflict. Her direct, sometimes harsh style makes her a magnet for headlines. Here are some of the moments that have had the most impact.

The clash with Luis Garvía

One of the most viral moments of Afra on television occurred on laSexta Xplica during a debate with financier Luis Garvía. He attacked the unions and suggested in a derogatory manner that she go eat “a plate of prawns”. Afra's response was immediate: “Don’t ever say that to me again. Be careful, okay? Don’t get it wrong”. The moment went viral within hours.

The clash with Pascual Ariño

In another debate on laSexta Xplica about economic inequality, real estate investor Pascual Ariño provoked the trade unionist with a direct comment: “We set up companies, we are not unionised workers like others”. Afra responded without holding back: “I have the training to have a company and I don’t have one. I don’t earn a penny from a union organisation”.

The brush with Mariló Montero

On Espejo Público, Afra had a tense exchange with Mariló Montero, who addressed her with expressions like “daughter” or “girl”. The trade unionist clearly asked for respect: “I don’t call you daughter, nor do I call you girl. My name is Afra and I call you Mariló”.

Her position on DANA and Carlos Mazón

After the DANA tragedy in Valencia, Afra Blanco was particularly harsh on the management of Carlos Mazón, president of the Generalitat Valenciana. She publicly criticised his absence for five hours during the emergency and described the PP's attempt to dilute responsibilities as “absolutely obscene”. She also attacked what she calls “fiscal brotherhood”, arguing that paying less tax equates to underfunding public services that save lives in crisis situations.

Afra Blanco's partner: Antonio Pérez Lobato

The trade unionist has always been very reserved about her private life, but in May 2025, her romantic relationship with journalist Antonio Pérez Lobato was confirmed. The news was first reported by El Debate and was later confirmed by the magazine Hola.

Antonio Pérez Lobato is a journalist, a graduate of the Complutense University of Madrid, and has worked at laSexta since 2014. He specialises in economic information and is the coordinator of the Economy block of laSexta Xplica, as well as a substitute presenter for the programme. Before laSexta, he worked as a correspondent in London during the 2008 financial crisis, covered the 11-M trial, and worked for media outlets such as Business TV and Invertia.

The relationship between the two began in the corridors of laSexta Xplica, where they meet every Saturday. According to several publications, the couple has been seen walking around Madrid quite naturally and taking Afra's son to school together, indicating that the relationship is stable and consolidated. Antonio, in fact, already knows the trade unionist's son, something that