Background on Key Figures and Context
On Sunday, tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid’s Plaza de España to protest against the socialist government led by President Pedro Sánchez. The demonstrators, many waving Spanish flags, chanted “Pedro Sánchez, resign!” The protest was organized by the Partido Popular (PP), the main opposition party, following the leak of audio recordings suggesting a smear campaign against a police unit investigating corruption allegations involving Sánchez’s family members.
Leire Díez, a member of the Partido Socialista who recently resigned from her position, was accused in these recordings of orchestrating the smear campaign. Díez denied the allegations, stating she was researching for a book and not acting on behalf of the party or Sánchez. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the PP, accused the government of “mafia-like practices” and claimed that Sánchez is at the center of multiple corruption scandals.
Feijóo urged Sánchez to “submit to democracy” and call for early elections during the rally, which had a turnout of over 100,000 according to the PP. The government representative in Madrid estimated attendance between 45,000 and 50,000 participants. Blanca Requejo, a 46-year-old shop owner and demonstrator, stated that “the expiration date for this government has long since passed.”
Sánchez’s Response and Previous Corruption Allegations
Sánchez, who has consistently defended the integrity of his family and ministers, accuses the right-wing and far-right of orchestrating “smear campaigns” aimed at destabilizing his government. Sánchez came to power in June 2018 after a motion of no confidence ousted his predecessor, Mariano Rajoy from the PP, due to a corruption scandal involving the party.
Current Political Landscape and Future Elections
Recent polls show the PP slightly ahead of the socialists. The next general elections are scheduled for 2027. This protest marks the sixth demonstration organized by the PP against Sánchez’s government since Feijóo took leadership of the party in April 2022. It precedes an extraordinary PP congress in July.
Notable attendees included former President Mariano Rajoy and another ex-PP leader, José María Aznar. Additionally, several regional government heads participated in the event. According to a survey published on Monday in El País, 24.6% of Spanish citizens prefer Sánchez to lead the country, surpassing Vox’s leader, Santiago Abascal (17.1%). Feijóo follows closely behind with 16.6%.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the main figures involved? President Pedro Sánchez and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo are central to this story. Sánchez leads the socialist government, while Feijóo is the head of the Partido Popular (PP).
- What are the allegations against Sánchez? The protesters accuse Sánchez of being involved in corruption scandals, with recent audio leaks suggesting a smear campaign against those investigating these allegations.
- What is the significance of Leire Díez? Díez, a former member of the Partido Socialista, was accused in the leaked audio recordings of orchestrating the smear campaign. She has denied these allegations, stating she was conducting research for a book.
- What is the current political climate in Spain? Recent polls show a slight lead for the PP over the socialists, with Sánchez maintaining significant public support. The next general elections are not due until 2027.
