A massive protest took place in the Spanish capital Madrid the day before, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government and the holding of early parliamentary elections.
The rally was organized by around one hundred associations. According to their estimates, 200,000 people participated in the protest, while official authorities reported a turnout of 25,000.
“The deterioration of public services, train stoppages, and power outages—like in third-world countries—symbolize the decay of our nation,” said Fernando García-Capelo, a member of one of the organizing groups.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “Traitor, resign!”, “Pedro Sánchez, son of a b*tch!”, and “Long live freedom!”
Participants claimed that the recent blackout across Spain was not a “turning point” for their protests, but described the power outage as “yet another factor” that reinforces the image of a “banana republic,” which they believe Sánchez is promoting.
