Spain: Thousands of far-right march against the government

“Go away, Sanchez! Tens of thousands of supporters of the far-right Vox party have demonstrated in several Spanish cities, including Madrid, to protest against the left-wing government of Pedro Sánchez, a government of “betrayal, insecurity and ruin”, in their words.

Some 25,000 people (100,000 according to the far-right party) gathered in the center of the Spanish capital, at Colón Square, chosen because of the huge Spanish flag flying there, where many of them waved the national flag, according to police. . “We have a government that rules the people, reduces prison sentences for crimes and disarms the police,” Vox president Santiago Abascal said during his speech.

The political leader was referring to the upcoming abolition of the crime of sedition, for which nine Catalan separatist leaders were convicted because of their role in the 2017 secession attempt from their region in the country’s northeast. The change in the Criminal Code, which should take place before the end of the year, according to the right and far right opposition, will contribute to new attempts to secession of Catalonia, since then they will be punished much less severely. .

Minority Representative in Parliament

Santiago Abascal also spoke of “the doubling of sexual assaults since Sanchez came to power, and the crazy minister who passes the law with the blessing of the government, the political left and the media, so that they can eventually get out (from prison ) from rapists and pedophiles”. He was referring to the flagship law against sexual violence, which came into force in October, called “only yes is yes,” which generally toughened the arsenal against rape, but lowered penalties for other types of sexual violence.

A modification that had a perverse effect: some convicts were released from prison by reducing their sentences. “We are ruled by separatists, people who don’t want to be Spaniards, that’s why I’m here,” protested Cesar Peinado, a 65-year-old former truck driver who came to the demonstration, believing power was being “bought.” “We’re tired of this government, of the laws it passes without the necessary majority that get terrorists out of jails and free rapists,” explained Maria Dolores Lopez, the 58-year-old secretary.

It was on this square that the right and the far right mobilized in February 2019 and again in June 2021, thousands of people, each time condemning the government’s dialogue with the Catalan separatists. Forming a minority in parliament, the executive branch has been forced since its inception to engage in ongoing negotiations with the Catalan or Basque separatists in order to enlist their support.