SPAIN: Demonstrators at Madrid's Puerta del Sol Square break camp after 25 days of protests against Spain's political system and the economic crisis

Record ID: 346022

  • Title: SPAIN: Demonstrators at Madrid's Puerta del Sol Square break camp after 25 days of protests against Spain's political system and the economic crisis
  • Date: 13th June 2011
  • Summary: MADRID , SPAIN (JUNE 12, 2011) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS COLLECTING RUBBISH, PLACARDS AND FURNITURE MAN REMOVING BLUE TARPAULIN USED TO COVER STANDS MEN CARRYING WOODEN MAKESHIFT FURNITURE VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS DISMANTLING MAKESHIFT ENCAMPMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DANI, SOL DEMONSTRATOR, SAYING: "There was a lot of work to be done here to be able to launch the movement in a planned and solid manner, especially to have good infrastructure in neighbourhoods and to create good communication networks so that this can continue to work when we are no longer here physically. So I think the amount of time we have been here has been necessary, but now the work has been done and it's time to go." DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING AWAY TARPAULIN COVERS WOMEN FOLDING TENT VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS REMOVING TARPAULIN COVER PROTESTER REMOVING CHAIR AND CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARLOS, SOL DEMONSTRATOR, SAYING: "People have taken to the streets and to claim what is theirs, to demand an active, grassroots politics. It's the total vindication of this (movement)." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS REMOVING POSTERS FROM ENTRANCE OF SOL METRO STATION PROTESTERS CARRYING AWAY PLACARD READING 'LEGAL' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS REMOVING POSTERS AND BANNERS FROM ENTRANCE OF SOL METRO STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REBECA FERNANDEZ, SOL DEMONSTRATOR, SAYING: "And now what? From now on what? But we are working. What I see is that we are working, the working groups continue with great energy. But we need new people, with renewed sprit to work and take on the job so that this doesn't just end like this." VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS LOADING A VAN MADRID GOVERNMENT BUILDING / PROTESTERS DISMANTLING CAMP
  • Embargoed: 28th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain, Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADT8HRIVVMFQWEKTWSQ6OIGB9R
  • Story Text: Demonstrators camping in central Madrid's Puerta del Sol square began voluntarily dismantling their tents and stands on Sunday (June 12) after a 25 day protest by mainly young people against Spain's politicians and their response to the economic crisis.
    The group known as "los indignados" - "the indignant" - began their protest on May 15 and had been occupying Madrid's Puerta del Sol square ever since, sparking protests over the economic crisis that fanned out to city squares nationwide as word spread by Twitter and Facebook among demonstrators also known as "M-15" (for May 15), "Spanish Revolution" and "Real Democracy Now."
    Demonstrators initially hit the streets and camped in squares to protest against politicians under the slogan 'They don't represent us' ahead of the May 22 municipal elections which saw a rout of the country's governing Socialists.
    At one point, Sol gathered 28,000 people of all ages and all walks of life, dissipating the belief that Spain's youth was apathetic and disinterested in politics.
    "There was a lot of work to be done here to be able to launch the movement in a planned and solid manner, especially to have good infrastructure in neighbourhoods and to create good communication networks so that this can continue to work when we are no longer here physically. So I think the amount of time we have been here has been necessary, but now the work has been done and it's time to go," Dani, one of the protesters, said justifying the need to stay in the square for over 20 days.
    "People have taken to the streets and to claim what is theirs, to demand an active, grassroots politics. It's the total vindication of this (movement)," said another protester, Carlos.
    The Spanish economy slumped into recession during the second half of 2008 as the global financial meltdown compounded the collapse of the once-booming property market. It emerged with meagre growth in early 2010.
    The crisis sent the unemployment rate soaring to 21 percent in the first quarter of 2011, the highest in the industrialised world. Among young people, the core 'the indignant', it is even higher.
    The protest at Puerta del Sol brought tens of thousands onto the streets ahead of the May 22 elections but in recent days 'the indignant' have been criticised for being a vague movement without a clear objective and for out-staying their welcome in Madrid's central square.
    Another protester, Rebeca Fernandez, said the movement now needed to attract new members if it was to survive.
    "The working groups continue with great energy. But we need new people, with renewed sprit to work and take on the job so that this doesn't just end like this," she said.
    The demonstrators will continue their protest in neighbourhoods throughout the Spanish capital and keep an information point at Sol square, members of the group said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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