Tens of thousands of people – more than 60,000, according to organisers, and 40,000 according to the government delegation protested in Madrid. The demonstrators responded to the call by Alberto Núñez Feijóo the party leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP).
The protest began Sunday at noon in Plaza Felipe II with hundreds of buses deployed by the party.
The protest was against amnesty that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE) would be willing to agree to with the separatist parties Junts and ERC. The amnesty is a demand by these parties to support a possible government with the PSOE. And an opening for Sánchez’s party to be able to stay in power. The PP opposes this amnesty.
Thousands travelled to Madrid
In a speech two days before the investiture, which appears to be headed for failure, Alberto Núñez Feijóo addressed the thousands of Spaniards who travelled to the capital in buses, all the residents of Madrid, and those Spaniards who deliberately did not vote on July 23 out of dissatisfaction. He acknowledged his failure to form a government due to lack of support from other political parties.
What Feijóo wanted to achieve is to dismantle the narrative with which Sánchez seeks to justify the amnesty. After all, as many as 94% of Spaniards voted to keep the constitution in force. Moreover, he argued, “it is not socialism when the there is political elitism.
Feijóo not only gave an unequivocal message against “the deception” of the amnesty, but also seeks to project the image of party unity. A PP united around all the former leaders and former prime ministers, José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy. That, Feijóo argues, is different in the PSOE, where Felipe González and Alfonso Guerra, who have already spoken out against their party’s direction.
Protest in Barcelona
Sunday’s PP protest in Madrid was not the only action against amnesty for those convicted of the Catalan independence process. The civil movement Sociedad Civil Catalana has also announced a protest action for Sunday, October 8, in Barcelona. Thousands of participants are expected.
Also read: Puigdemont´s impossible demand complicates Feijóo´s bid for Spanish premiership
