Madrid.- Thousands of people — 80,000 according to the Popular Party (PP) and 40,000 according to the government delegation — demonstrated on Sunday in Madrid for Demanding general elections It denounces what the opposition describes as The “corruption” surrounding the government of Pedro Sanchez. The call, which took place just three days ago and focused on the scandal that ended with the preventive detention of former Minister José Luis Albalos and his advisor Koldo García, became… One of the largest mobilizations of the PP In recent years and in A turning point in the political attack of Alberto Nunez Viejo.
The event took place in the Debod Temple, a symbolic place in the center of the capital, which has been filled since mid-morning with thousands of demonstrators carrying Spanish flags and some regional banners. Despite the cold, the threat of rain, and temperatures that did not exceed 10 degrees, the flow flooded the surrounding streets towards Plaza España and Paseo Pintor Rosales. The People’s Party celebrated that “the response was tremendous”, describing the protest as “citizen action without shortcuts”, although the stage was painted in the party’s colors and logo. It was headed by the slogan “Elections Now”.
From the stage, Nunez Viejo hardened his tone against Sánchez and directly linked the president to the corruption conspiracy for which Abalos and García had already been prosecuted. “Sanchismo is in prison and has to leave the government.”“, he declared to the audience, who responded with shouts “Pedro Sanchez to prison!”. The leader of the People’s Party insisted that “Spain cannot wait another day,” and called on all parliamentary forces to “represent themselves” in the face of what he described as the dilemma between “corruption or cleanliness.”
Speaking specifically of the PNV and Junts – key elements of the parliamentary stability of the executive – Figo called for “a move away from the path of institutional corruption that Sánchez represents.” Yes okay He avoided mentioning the censure motion he proposed a few days agoHe pressured the nationalists and other government partners to reconsider their support for the president. “Four used that car to get to power and three already know the prison. Number one is missing,” he said, referring to the Peugeot in which Sánchez toured Spain during the 2017 primaries with Abalos, García and Santos Cerdán.
The popular leader also sent a direct message to the Vox Party, with which it maintains a tense relationship despite governing together in several autonomous communities. After a deliberate silence, Figo asked for “maturity and responsibility” from the far-right party: “I will not choose the wrong opponent. My opponent is the head of government. Do not make the wrong goal or priority.” The gesture was interpreted as an attempt to contain internal pressures and reassert his leadership after weeks of debate over a possible censure motion.
The protest brought together important figures from the People’s Party, including former presidents José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy, almost all regional leaders and dozens of mayors and local leaders. president of madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayusowas once again one of the strongest voices at the event. “This government did not come to serve the country, but to benefit from it.”He mentioned. “Let us not become accustomed to the unnatural, This is how all dictatorships beginHe also pointed out that Sanchez’s partners ‘all involved in the corruption mafia’ Beldo was accused of supporting a project that, she said, threatened to “divide Spain” and give impetus to ETA. “Let them tell me it’s a lie,” he challenged.
Ayuso’s criticism came in a week marked by the conviction of the state prosecutor, Alvaro García Ortiz, for revealing secrets in the case that affected a friend of the Madrid president. The capital’s mayor, Jose Luis Martinez Almeida, recalled part of that speech and denounced it. “Spain is already a dictatorship or on its way to becoming one.”and ensuring that state authorities persecute the opposition. “We must vote in a ballot box,” he said, even though the general elections are scheduled for 2027, as the constitution stipulates.
The outpouring of protest exceeded the expectations of the People’s Party, which compared it with the large mobilization in the Puerta del Sol in November 2023 (80 thousand participants according to data of the time) and with that which took place in the Plaza de España in January 2024 (45 thousand people). Figo highlighted the “logistical challenge” of organizing a march of this size in November and stressed that the result shows the street’s support for his strategy. “Sanchez wants us to exhaust ourselves and become frustrated. We will not do that,” he said. “The People’s Party will not stop until we get all the necessary votes. There will be a different tomorrow sooner rather than later.”
The rally culminated with the Spanish anthem and a message from Figo to his party in which he admitted mistakes but was regaining his leadership. “I’m wrong too, perfection is for bullies,” he said. “But I did not fail to be a servant of my country and to be a faithful servant.”
With this protest PP seeks to profit from the erosion of government In the midst of the Abalos Coldo scandal and increasing political pressure in an increasingly tense climate. Uncertainty about the stability of the executive, tension with parliamentary partners and the possibility of early elections – which the government has ruled out – keep the political scenario highly polarized in Spain.
Agencies, newspaper DPA and AFP Country