Tens of thousands of people joined an anti-government protest in Madrid, calling for an early general election as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces ongoing corruption allegations involving his family, party, and administration.
The demonstration, organized by the conservative People’s Party (PP) under the slogan “This is it: mafia or democracy?”, took place just days after former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, a former close ally of Sánchez, was detained as part of an investigation into an alleged kickbacks-for-contracts scheme.
The PP claimed 80,000 people attended, while the central government’s regional delegate estimated the crowd at the Temple of Debod in central Madrid was half that size.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo criticized the current government as “absurd” and unsustainable, arguing that Ábalos’s detention exposed the corruption of what he termed “sanchismo.” He told the crowd, “Sanchismo is political, economic, institutional, social, and moral corruption. It belongs in prison and must leave government.”
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the populist PP leader of the Madrid region—whose boyfriend is set to stand trial for tax fraud and document falsification—went further. In a fiery speech, she invoked the defunct Basque terrorist group Eta, accusing Sánchez of supporting Basque nationalists who back his government. “Eta is preparing its assault on the Basque Country and Navarra while propping up Pedro Sánchez,” she claimed. Eta ended its armed struggle in 2011 and disbanded in 2018.
Félix Bolaños, Spain’s minister for the presidency and justice, accused the PP and the far-right Vox party—which did not participate in the protest—of being essentially the same and competing to make the most outrageous statements about the prime minister.
Sánchez, who came to power in 2018 after a no-confidence vote ousted a PP government embroiled in corruption, has vowed to continue despite the allegations and recent judicial setbacks. On Monday, his attorney general, Álvaro García Ortiz, resigned after the Supreme Court found him guilty of leaking confidential information about the tax case involving Ayuso’s boyfriend.
The conviction has intensified debate over the judiciary’s politicization, coinciding with ongoing investigations into corruption allegations against Sánchez’s wife and brother. Sánchez has dismissed these claims as politically motivated smears. In June, he asked his close associate Santos Cerdán to resign as the Socialist Party’s organizational secretary after a Supreme Court judge found “firm evidence” of his possible involvement in a kickback scheme for public contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ábalos and his aide Koldo García are also accused in the case.
Cerdán, Ábalos, and García all deny any wrongdoing and maintain their innocence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the protests in Madrid designed with clear natural questions and direct answers
Basic Factual Questions
1 What is happening in Madrid right now
A large protest is taking place in Madrid with thousands of people gathering to demand an immediate general election
2 Why are people protesting
The main reason is widespread public anger over corruption claims and scandals linked to the current government
3 Who is organizing these protests
The protests are primarily organized by a mix of political opposition parties citizen activist groups and grassroots movements
4 What specific corruption claims are they referring to
While specific cases may vary the protests are fueled by a series of recent highprofile scandals involving allegations of bribery influence peddling and misuse of public funds by politicians in the ruling party
5 Is the protest peaceful
The vast majority of protesters are demonstrating peacefully Organizers have emphasized a commitment to nonviolence though large protests always have the potential for isolated incidents
Deeper Analytical Questions
6 Can a protest actually force an election
Not directly In Spains parliamentary system only the king or parliament through a noconfidence vote can call an early election However massive public pressure can make it politically very difficult for a government to continue without calling one
7 What happens if the government ignores the protests
The government could choose to ride out the public anger However this risks further eroding its public support strengthening the opposition and potentially triggering more widespread civil disobedience or a political crisis within its own coalition
8 How does this relate to Spains political stability
Largescale protests over corruption highlight deep public distrust in political institutions This can destabilize the governments agenda spook financial markets and create a prolonged period of political uncertainty until the situation is resolved
9 Have there been similar protests in Spains history
Yes Spain has a history of public mobilizations influencing politics The 15M movement in 2011 is a famous example which focused on economic issues and political corruption and significantly altered the countrys political landscape
10 Whats the difference between a vote of noconfidence and demanding an election
