According to the government delegation, the rejection of the amnesty brought together 170,000 people this Saturday afternoon in Madrid for the first major demonstration against the pardon of the accused after the inauguration of Pedro Sánchez. The massive protest has filled the Plaza de Cibeles and the surrounding streets, a call promoted by a hundred right-wing and far-right associations and civic forums. The initiative was presented as a defense of the constitution and the future of Spain, which, according to supporters, is in danger of “to be or not to be” due to the pact made by the PSOE with pro-independence supporters. The organizers intervened, shouting “Sánchez, go to prison!” and participants’ “Sánchez offenders!”
The parties PP, Vox and Ciudadanos had pushed forward the mobilization, especially after the candidacy of the already government president was ahead in Congress this Thursday with an absolute majority of 179 votes. Upon his arrival at the rally, the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, demanded in statements to the media that Sánchez should not build “walls” or “burden society”, stating: “It is one thing to have power, and it is another matter.” To be right.” For his part, the president of Vox, Santiago Abascal, announced that he had asked Feijóo for a meeting “to coordinate the institutional response” to the amnesty, both in the Autonomous Communities , in which the two right-wing parties govern, as well as in the Senate.
According to the government delegation, the protest was the largest protest against the amnesty to date. The demonstrations organized by the PP last Sunday brought more people together, but only if one counts the demonstrations in the various provincial capitals. The proclamations heard this Saturday in Cibeles were similar to those chanted at previous rallies and in front of the doors of the PSOE national headquarters on Ferraz Street in Madrid, such as “Spain, united, will never be defeated!” and “Puigdemont.”, to prison!” The philosopher and writer Fernando Savater, among others, took part in the event: “One thing is the right to difference and another thing is the difference of rights, that different rights are invented for Spaniards and that there are first-class and second-class. “Spanish. Second,” he assured from the stage, encouraged by the applause of the audience that followed the interventions.
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Among the participants were people of all ages, carrying constitutional flags of Spain and the European Union with the PP logo and banners with slogans such as “Spain is sold for seven votes”, “Protected coup plotters, abandoned Spaniards” or “I am Trilero and…” I got the investiture with my face,” referring to Sánchez. Among those concentrated were residents of Madrid and the surrounding municipalities, but also newcomers from other provinces of Spain. Like a group of people around the age of 60 who had rented a bus to go to the protest from Murcia, or who had caught the call while visiting the capital Madrid, like Alejandro Muriel, 47, owner of a renovation company in Gavá (Barcelona). . “Let’s see if that changes a little. “It is a shame that they are betraying themselves to rule for four more years,” he said.
The Popular Party has gained strength through the protest, supported by several area leaders, such as the President of the Region of Murcia, Fernando López Miras; that of Aragon, Jorge Azcón; and that of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, in addition to other members of the executive such as Esteban González Pons and Elías Bendodo, as well as Feijóo. “We are at a very complicated moment in our democracy. The alarms and warnings of our democracy are in full swing,” said the leader of the PP. “We come to ask the government, which has already invested, that it is one thing to have power and another thing to be right.” “It is one thing to get enough MPs, but you know that you don’t have the votes to do what you do,” he added.
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The leaders of the PP at the protest. Jaime Villanueva
Ayuso, for his part, has brought charges against Sánchez, attributing his intention to create two irreconcilable sides in Spanish society. “They are manufactured and produce two sides. A site where arbitrariness and changing rules apply. And all of us who don’t agree with Spain being changed for everyone are already practically cornered, as if we were fascists. “This has to be stopped,” said the Madrid president. Feijóo left the rally, shaking hands, greeting participants and shouting “Force President!” and “Resist!”
For his part, Abascal announced upon his arrival that he had asked Feijóo for a meeting to analyze the possibilities of the Senate, where the Popular Party holds the absolute majority, to stop the law. Abascal has acknowledged that both parties maintain “legal differences” because while the PP believes that the passage of the law by the Senate is a mere procedure that can at most be extended, he believes that there is a report from the senior lawyer of the Upper House That would call its constitutionality into question and would be enough to outright deny processing. “We should be able to sit down and talk about it,” he said of his meeting with Feijóo.
The Ultra leader assured that “the execution of the coup, which has already begun with Pedro Sánchez’s pact with all the enemies of Spain, will be the adoption of the amnesty law.” And he added: “We cannot give up the fight as lost , we must continue to resist with sustained social mobilization and ensure a coordinated institutional response in the regions where there is no coup majority and in the Senate; and to communicate to all our international allies what is happening in Spain.” Without specifically quoting Feijóo, he added: “You have to take personal risks.”
Abascal once again avoided condemning the groups that cause clashes every night at the protests next to the PSOE headquarters, limiting himself to pointing out that “the minister [Fernando Grande] Marlaska is responsible for the violence. He wanted to criminalize the mobilizations and confront the agents with the Spanish people. Don’t count on us for this.” On the other hand, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, said that “the protests were better before Vox arrived,” pointing out that parties should not play a leading role in these concentrations . Facing criticism from Javier Ortega Smith, vice-president of the Ultra party and Madrid city councilor for Vox, who described the police response as disproportionate, the mayor defended the actions of the state security forces, except “when it was a controversial action, like two. “The media has reported that in this case the appropriate channels are being followed,” he added, in connection with the arrest of a journalist from El Mundo and another from El Español.
“Let’s go to La Moncloa!”
The protest ended around one o’clock in the afternoon with the national anthem. A large group then marched towards Ferraz Street and walked along Gran Vía and Princesa, which police had closed to traffic. According to the government delegation, about 3,000 demonstrators have gathered near the PSOE’s federal headquarters. However, when they reached the intersection of Princesa and Gran Vía, several hundred people continued walking in a straight line, shouting “Let’s go to La Moncloa,” in reference to the seat of the regional council.
The maneuver seemed to surprise the police, who were overwhelmed and initially allowed the demonstrators to follow them to the entrance to the A6, the A Coruña motorway; and then to the outer wall of the Moncloa Palace, where we wait for reinforcements. There were moments of confusion as protesters walked between cars stuck in traffic until the three lanes of entry into the capital were closed. About 300 demonstrators remained standing next to the presidential complex, many of them sitting in front of the agents blocking their path, shouting “Sánchez, you bastard, watch the balcony” or “Brave Marlaska, brave son of a bitch.”
Although no demonstration of this kind had ever reached the President’s residence, the attitude of the majority was peaceful, despite the verbal aggressiveness of some participants, such as Vox MEP Hermann Tertsch, who recorded a message demanding: “Here we are are in Moncloa, before the guard of the villain, the hideout of the tyrant, the leader of the criminal alliance that has illegally and illegitimately seized power in Spain. “Here we are and we will return as often as necessary.”
After more than an hour, and despite those who insisted on staying calling the others cowards, the protesters finally returned toward the center under pressure from agents who urged those furthest back to slow down to increase, while many of the cars drove in the opposite direction and left Madrid, they were greeted with honking and all lanes of the A6 were reopened.
Tens of thousands of people near the Plaza de Cibeles during the demonstration.Jaime Villanueva
Thousands of people populate the area around the Plaza de Cibeles with banners and flags. Borja Sánchez-Trillo (EFE)
A Spanish flag flew during the anti-amnesty protest that took place in Madrid this Saturday. SUSANA VERA (Portal)The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo (center) and the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso (third from left), together with other popular leaders, this Saturday during the demonstration against the amnesty in Madrid.Jaime Villanueva
Participants of the demonstration against the amnesty this Saturday in Madrid. Borja Sánchez-Trillo (EFE)
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and the President of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, greet the demonstrators who take part in the protest against the amnesty that passes through the center of Madrid. Jaime Villanueva
A demonstrator holds a sign that reads “Sánchez, I like fruit” in Madrid this Saturday. Borja Sánchez-Trillo (EFE)
A man kisses a parrot during a demonstration against the amnesty this Saturday around the Plaza de Cibeles. Gabriel Luengas (Europa Press)
Thousands of people during a demonstration against the amnesty, this Saturday in the Plaza de Cibeles. Diego Radames (Europa Press)
Thousands of people in the Plaza de Cibeles during the demonstration against the amnesty this Saturday. Jaime Villanueva
A woman holds part of a huge Spanish flag during this Saturday’s protest in Madrid. Diego Radames (Europa Press)
Participants of the demonstration against the amnesty in the center of Madrid this Saturday. Ricardo Rubio – Europa Press (Europa Press)
A T-shirt with a slogan against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during the protests against the amnesty in Madrid. Gabriel Luengas (Europa Press)
A woman holds a flag of Spain alongside other European Union members during the anti-amnesty protest in Madrid. Gabriel Luengas (Europa Press)
Several people hold banners with the image of Miguel Ángel Blanco, the Ermua councilor who was assassinated by ETA in 1997. FERNANDO ALVARADO (EFE)
The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, upon arrival at the demonstration this Saturday in Madrid. JAVIER SORIANO (AFP)
Thousands of people crowd the area around Plaza de Cibeles this Saturday. JUANJO MARTIN (EFE)
Several people hold flags of the European Union, Spain and Catalonia during the demonstration in Madrid. SUSANA VERA (Portal)
The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, welcomes Elías Bendodo, general coordinator of the party, upon his arrival at the demonstration against the amnesty that took place this Saturday in Madrid. Jaime Villanueva
From left, popular leaders Elías Bendodo, Cuca Gamarra, Rafael Hernando and Estebán González Pons upon their arrival at the demonstration that took place this Saturday in Madrid.Jaime Villanueva
Photos allowed from the town hall
This Saturday, the Madrid City Council allowed media photographers to climb to the roof of the Cibeles Palace, seat of the Consistory, to capture images of the demonstration. The local government governed by the PP, expecting a large number of visitors, therefore changed the criteria in force in the last electoral term (2019-2023) when it prohibited entry more than once – a controversial measure supported by the opposition, in particular by all, was criticized when it was prevented from taking photos of the massive public health protest in Madrid in November 2022, which was attended by 200,000 people according to the government delegation in Madrid and 670,000 people according to the organizers.
According to city sources, the entry criteria were always the same back then: it was only allowed at major events such as Pride, the March 8 March, the Epiphany Parade and the Real Madrid celebrations. However, the criteria have now changed and photographers are allowed entry. “We are responding to the flood of inquiries,” explain sources from the city’s communications sector.
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