- Title: Thousands protest in Madrid against Spanish government
- Date: 21st January 2023
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JANUARY 21, 2023) (REUTERS) TOP VIEW OF THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED AT CIBELES SQUARE AND HUGE SPANISH FLAG WAVING TOP VIEW OF SPANISH FLAG WAVING AND SOUND OF SPANISH ANTHEM / PROTESTERS CHEERING TOP VIEW OF PROTESTERS AROUND CIBELES FOUNTAIN BANNER READING (Spanish) “Government resign†AND PROTESTERS GATHERED WOMAN WITH SPANISH FLAG PAINT ON FACE PROTESTERS CHANTING “Government resign†PROTESTERS HOLDING SPANISH FLAGS PROTESTER HOLDING SIGN READING (Spanish) “To prison†VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER JOSEFINA RIBAGORDA, BUSINESSWOMAN, 60, SAYING: "I think it was necessary to come and say enough is enough, the important thing is that we get out of this economic crisis that we have so important and that money is not spent on superfluous things that do not matter to the Spanish people." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER ALICIA CABALLERO, BUSINESSWOMAN, SAYING: “In terms of the economy, I personally don't like the government's response, it doesn't seem to me that it is doing everything possible to get Spain out of this crisis. It is also true that it is a world crisis, and we will all get out of it together. But above all this demonstration is more than for the economic issue, it is for our democracy, for the integrity of our country.†(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER ROBERTO SARINERA, UNEMPLOYED, 52, SAYING: “Basically (I came) because of the slogan on the podium, "for Spain, for democracy, for the Constitution". To defend the current Spain, which allows us to live in freedom, which is the Spain that was born with the Constitution of 1978, which has allowed us to live many years of democracy and which I believe must be defended because right now could be in danger.†VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED WAVING SPANISH FLAGS PROTESTER CHANTING (Spanish) “Traitors†VARIOUS OF CIBELES FOUNTAIN AND PROTESTERS GATHERED PROTESTERS WITH SPANISH FLAG ON THEIR BACK SIGN READING (Spanish) “Sanchismo (PM Sanchez) destroys Spain†VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WITH SPANISH FLAGS PROTESTERS GATHERED SPANISH FLAGS WAVING PROTESTERS GATHERED AT CIBELES SQUARE PROTESTERS CHANTING (Spanish) “Sanchez resign†VARIOUS OF TOP VIEW OF PROTESTERS GATHERED TOP VIEW OF HUGE SPANISH FLAG WAVING AND PROTESTERS GATHERED
- Embargoed: 4th February 2023 13:18
- Keywords: Cibeles Madrid PP Spain VOX anti-government protest conservative politics protest
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001419121012023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of people protested against Spain's Socialist government, who they accused of undermining the Spanish constitution, in central Madrid on Saturday (January 21).
Some 30,000 people packed into the Plaza de Cibeles in front of Madrid's City Hall according to local government estimates. Many waved Spanish flags and chanted "traitor" and "resign, Sanchez", referring to prime minister Pedro Sanchez.
The rally was called by over 100 associations under the slogan "For Spain, for democracy and the constitution" to protest against issues protesters believe are threatening the Spanish constitution, including separatism in Catalonia.
It was supported by the conservative Popular Party, centre-right Ciudadanos and the far-right Vox, whose leader Santiago Abascal, the only party leader to attend, dubbed the current government "the worst government in history".
"This demonstration is more than an economic issue for me, it is for our democracy, for the integrity of our country," businesswoman Alicia Caballero told Reuters.
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