Spain Opposition Calls for Early Elections as Thousands Rally in Madrid
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Spanish opposition party rallies tens of thousands of protesters in Madrid
The Popular Party organized the rally with the slogan ‘Mafia or democracy,’ in response to alleged corruption scandals involving Sanchez’s political allies and family. Sanchez is being corralled by a series of legal cases that have focused on a former member
MADRID — Spain’s opposition party staged a protest in Madrid that drew tens of thousands of attendees on Sunday, calling for the resignation of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and demanding new elections.
The Popular Party organized the rally with the slogan ‘Mafia or democracy,’ in response to alleged corruption scandals involving Sanchez’s political allies and family.
Sanchez is being corralled by a series of legal cases — all still in the investigative phase — that have focused on a former member of his Cabinet as well as his wife and, most recently, his brother.
Tens of thousands of people took part in anti-government protest in Madrid
Tens of thousands of people took part in anti-government protest in Madrid. The demonstration was organised by the opposition People’s Party (PP) The reason for mass discontent was corruption scandals affecting the government, the prime minister’s entourage and members of his family. The head of the country’s Ministry of Education, Pilar Alegria, noted that the musical “group Estopa attracts more viewers than Feijoo”
Tens of thousands of people took part in anti-government protest in Madrid
Demonstrators hold Spain’s flags during a demonstration called by Spain’s right-wing opposition party Partido Popular (PP) to protest against the ruling government in Plaza de Espana square in Madrid on June 8, 2025. ©Thomas Coex / AFP
A protest by thousands of people against the government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the ruling Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) took place in the center of Madrid, News.Az reports citing the Guardian.
The demonstration was organised by the opposition People’s Party (PP). According to the central government delegation in the region, between 45,000 and 50,000 people took part in the action. The organisers claimed 100,000 protesters.
The reason for mass discontent was corruption scandals affecting the government, the prime minister’s entourage and members of his family. The leader of the People’s Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, addressed the protesters. He called on citizens to “settle with democracy and hold elections.” The party leader emphasized that new elections must be held now.
At the same time, representatives of the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) assessed the action as a “failure.” The head of the country’s Ministry of Education, Pilar Alegria, noted that the musical “group Estopa attracts more viewers than Feijoo.”
This is already the sixth action organized by Feijóo’s political force. On May 10, protests for the resignation of the Spanish Prime Minister took place in Madrid, in which about 25,000 people participated.
News.Az
Spanish Opposition Party Rallies Tens of Thousands of Protesters in Madrid
Spain’s opposition party staged a protest in Madrid that drew tens of thousands of attendees. The Popular Party organised the rally with the slogan ‘Mafia or democracy,’ in response to alleged corruption scandals involving Sanchez’s political allies and family.
The Popular Party organised the rally with the slogan ‘Mafia or democracy,’ in response to alleged corruption scandals involving Sanchez’s political allies and family.
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Sanchez is being corralled by a series of legal cases — all still in the investigative phase — that have focused on a former member of his Cabinet as well as his wife and, most recently, his brother. (AP)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Massive Rally in Madrid Demands Prime Minister’s Resignation
Tens of thousands gathered in Madrid on Sunday to support Spain’s opposition party. Their demand: the immediate resignation of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the organization of new elections.
The protest, orchestrated by the Popular Party under the banner ‘Mafia or democracy,’ stemmed from corruption allegations involving individuals connected to Sanchez. These accusations have sparked widespread concern and criticism among various factions.
Prime Minister Sanchez is under scrutiny with ongoing investigations targeting individuals closely associated with him, including a former minister and his immediate family. As the legal probes advance, the political pressure on Sanchez continues to escalate.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Spain: Tens of thousands demand new election at Madrid rally – DW – 06
Spain’s conservative Popular Party (PP) is protesting the left-wing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The current administration is implicated in several scandals, one of them involving Sanchez’s wife. Many of the protesters chanted, “Pedro Sanchez, resign!” in reaction to a leaked audio recording allegedly showing political activist Leire Diez waging a smear campaign against a police unit. PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo told protesters Sunday that the PSOE had “stained everything — politics, state institutions, the separation of powers” The next vote in Spain is due in 2027, but the PP leader has already moved his party’s congress forward by a year to this July, citing the need to be prepared for possible early polls. The opposition leader is yet to put forward a motion of censure against Sanchez’s minority government.
An opposition-led protest against government corruption in Spain drew tens of thousands of people on Sunday.
Officials put the number of people at the “Mafia or Democracy” rally in Madrid at up to 50,000, while the city’s right-wing mayor spoke of 100,000 people.
Plaza de Espana, a large square in the center of the Spanish capital, was crowded with demonstrators, many waving red and yellow Spanish flags.
Opposition accuses Sanchez of running ‘mafia’ government
Mayor Jose Luis Martínez-Almeida told protesters that Spain’s opposition People’s Party (PP) wants to “drive out the mafia as quickly as possible and restore our democracy,” in a reference to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing government.
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Many of the protesters chanted, “Pedro Sanchez, resign!” in reaction to a leaked audio recording allegedly showing political activist Leire Diez, at the time member of the Socialist PSOE party, waging a smear campaign against a police unit.
The police unit had investigated graft allegations against Sanchez’s wife, brother and his former right-hand man.
Diez has denied the allegations, insisting that she was conducting research for a book and was not working on behalf of Sanchez or PSOE. She has since quit the party.
The Diez scandal is one of several graft investigations circling Sanchez and his allies. Others include alleged donations to lawmakers close to the PSOE linked to a tax fraud case.
Officials put the number of attendees at the Madrid march between 50,000 and 100,000 Image: Alejandro Martínez Vélez/Europa Press/IMAGO
PP’s Feijoo demands early election
Having accused the government of “mafia practices” over the affair, PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo told protesters Sunday that the PSOE had “stained everything — politics, state institutions, the separation of powers,” before demanding a snap election. The next vote is due in 2027.
But Feijoo has already moved his party’s congress forward by a year to this July, citing the need to be prepared for possible early polls.
The opposition leader is yet to put forward a motion of censure against Sanchez’s minority government. To do this, he would need the support of regional parties, who are wary of joining forces with the right-wing populist Vox party.
Sunday’s was the sixth anti-government protest that the PP has arranged since Feijoo became party leader in April 2022. Former prime ministers Mariano Rajoy and Jose Maria Aznar were also in attendance.
Sanchez says graft probes are a ‘smear campaign’
A Spanish government spokeswoman mocked Sunday’s turnout, noting on X that a veteran Spanish rock duo had recently pulled a bigger crowd in Madrid than the “apocalyptic Feijoo.”
Sanchez, meanwhile, has dismissed the investigations against members of his inner circle as part of a right-wing “smear campaign.”
The PP currently holds a slim lead over PSOE, according to recent polls, although Sanchez has the highest approval rating among all party leaders.
During its time in office in the past decade, the PP was also accused of corruption, involving illegal party funding, abuse of office, bribery and cover-ups.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic