MADRID – It’s the ninth night in a row. For the ninth time, Spanish men and women return to Calle Ferraz in front of the PSOE headquarters to protest against Pedro Sanchez and the amnesty for the Catalans.
“National unity. “National unity,” they shout in chorus. A boy holds up a sign: “The PSOE kneels.” Spain rises.” Whistles alternate with singing.
There are thousands of them: men, women, children, entire families. The protest is cross-generational, but also cross-party. There is the president of the Denas Foundation, an offshoot of Vox, Ivan Velaz. He says: “We need a general strike that will paralyze Spain.” I will protest every day. We have to fight against these tyrants.” Even the socialists raise their voices on Calle Ferraz. Jesus, 73, comments: “I was a member of a left-wing party, but that’s enough.” I only have negative names for Sánchez. We need Meloni in Spain.
Carmen’s words boom out of a mini speaker. He shouts: “Puigdemont in prison.” Puigdemont in prison. And then he repeats the voices in the background: “Uni-sci-ti police. University Science Police”. He speaks proudly of the young people in the front rows who are stuck in front of the barriers for hours. He explains: “Everything is peaceful here, there is no violence.” It is a movement of 20 to 25 -year-old boys and girls that we older people are joining (he is 69 years old, editor’s note). It’s exciting.” Then he points his finger at a sign on the corner. “Sanchez, there are socialists here too, but not the thieves. These are the socialists who are fed up with Pedro Sanchez,” she emphasizes.
Nearby, Teresa, 77 years old, proudly shows us the pipe around her neck and the flag on her shoulders. Since the first day of the protests, she has not missed a demonstration: “I go out on the streets every day, this evening my husband accompanied me, he usually stays at home.” I am a woman who defends the rule of law and what is happening , is not right at all.”
Ines, 63, nods as she explains what motivates her to return to Ferraz every day: “We have a sold-out president, he wants to divide Spain like the Balkans.” And at 16, I was one of those who voted for the passage of the Constitution took to the streets, I was a socialist at the time. Now? I’m leaving the PSOE and voting for PP.” Ines has to raise her voice to make herself understood. The songs, punctuated by the flags waving in the air, don’t stop: “Spain is not 51 (like the number of provinces, editor’s note)”. “Spain belongs to everyone.” “Spain defends itself, does not sell itself.”
“Forty-eight hours before the elections, Sanchez said he would not grant amnesty, and then he did the opposite. “This is electoral fraud,” says 40-year-old María José, before repeating the phrase on a banner, as if reading almost the same thing: “Sanchez traitor.”
A small group of young people appears a few meters away from her. Maria, 23 years old, explains: “I don’t go to demonstrations, but this time it is necessary.” The amnesty is unconstitutional.” “Enough is enough, we have reached the limit,” admits Carlos, 21 years old. A flag without a royal symbol flies above his head because, as he explains, the monarchy does not represent him.
At the crossroads, a couple hugs inside the Spanish flag. He remains in a bubble of silence within the crowd. The disgust remains in the expression of many. In the folded arms of many lies the sign of bitterness. 48-year-old Esther doesn’t let her hair down during the entire interview. She says: “The other daughter is missing tonight because she is working, but I am here with the whole family. She is 11 years old and she needs to know what is happening because it is not normal: it is not normal to make contracts with certain parties to stay in Moncloa. Martina, his youngest daughter, smiles. Like her mother, she also squeezes her hands: “I like politics and none of this seems right to me.” Her father watches her with some pride. Then Esther adds: “My parents took to the streets to protest against fascism, and social media didn’t exist back then.” Today, thanks to the Internet, we are invited to demonstrations, there is virtual word of mouth, so it’s not enough More about staying at home and watching others raise their voices. We have to take to the streets because it affects us all.”