Mass rally in Madrid demands Sánchez resign over corruption cases
Conservative Spaniards are outraged at what they see is widespread corruption in the minority left-wing government of Pedro Sánchez. A former transport minister has been jailed awaiting trial.
Madrid (dpa) – Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on Sunday to protest against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, accusing his left-wing government of corruption and demanding his resignation and early elections.
The demonstration was organized by the conservative People's Party (PP) under opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
The rally in central Madrid carried the slogan "Mafia or democracy?"
Participants waved Spanish flags and carried signs reading "Resign now!" and "Sánchez, go away!"
The PP estimated the crowd at around 80,000, while the Interior Ministry put the figure closer to 40,000. The last large-scale protest against Sánchez in the capital occurred in June.
Supreme court detains former transport minister
Sunday's demonstration was sparked by a Supreme Court decision earlier this week ordering the pre-trial detention of Sánchez's former transport minister, José Luis Ábalos and the minister's ex-adviser Koldo García.
Both are accused of corruption over the purchase of protective masks during the coronavirus pandemic and were considered flight risks by the court.
Sánchez's minority socialist government has faced increasing pressure from multiple corruption scandals.
Opposition calls for early vote
While the next parliamentary elections are not due until late 2027, the opposition is calling for an early vote.
"The whole of Spain is fed up with corruption ... Enough of so much decay and so much nonsense," Feijóo shouted to the cheers of the crowd. "Let them finally go - let them go and call new elections so that the citizens can speak, vote and decide."
However, Feijóo's PP opposition is not without controversies either.
Carlos Mazón, president of the Valencia regional government, recently resigned after criticism of his handling of floods in late October 2024 that killed more than 200 people. Authorities were criticized for delayed warnings and slow evacuations.