Spain: Violent protests after Sánchez's re-election
Even after the re-election of socialist Pedro Sánchez as Spain's head of government, several thousand people demonstrated in Madrid during the night. It was the 14th night in a row of sometimes violent demonstrations in front of the headquarters of Sánchez's PSOE party against an amnesty for Catalan separatists. Sánchez had promised the amnesty to two Catalan parties in return for their votes in the parliamentary vote on his candidacy.
Participants at the rally waved Spanish flags and shouted "National Unity" and "Long live Spain". Sánchez was also subjected to all the usual insults in Spanish. Masked participants, mainly young men, threw bottles, tennis balls, barricades, firecrackers and Bengal fire at the police, as seen on television.
The police then broke up the rally. Seven people, including a police officer, were slightly injured, the Europa Press news agency reported, citing the authorities. Seven people were also arrested.
Spain's conservatives and right-wing populists accuse Sánchez of wanting to establish a "dictatorship" and endangering democracy, the separation of powers and the unity of Spain. That is why Spaniards should demonstrate until there is a new election. Sánchez was elected in the first round of voting on Thursday with an absolute majority of MPs in the lower house.
- The opposition parties in Spain, including the conservatives and right-wing populists, argue that Pedro Sánchez is endangering democracy and the unity of Spain by promising an amnesty for Catalan separatists.
- The Spanish Parliament saw Sánchez elected with an absolute majority of MPs in the lower house, following his proposal of an amnesty to Catalan parties in exchange for their votes.
- Protests against Sánchez's re-election and the amnesty deal have intensified in front of the PSOE headquarters in Madrid, with demonstrations occurring nightly for 14 days, including violent clashes between protesters and police.
- The government's decision to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists has led to calls for fresh elections; many Spaniards believe that Sánchez's actions are undermining Spain's democratic institutions and its territorial integrity, as Catalonia has historically pushed for independence.
Source: www.dpa.com
