On November 7th, protestors waving Spanish flags and chanting anti-amnesty slogans surrounded the Spanish Socialist Party’s (PSOE) headquarters for the fifth night in a row. These ongoing demonstrations are in response to a proposed amnesty for the fugitive, Carles Puigdemont, and for Catalan separatist politicians who attempted a coup d’état in 2017. In the opinion of the supreme body of the Spanish judiciary, granting amnesty would bring about “the abolition of the rule of law in Spain.” Despite this, Pedro Sánchez, secretary-general of the PSOE and acting prime minister, hopes to pardon the separatists in exchange for their votes.
Sánchez needs the Junts, Puigdemont’s party, to support him in order to get an absolute majority and become president. The Junts have made it clear that they will not vote for him unless he grants a pardon, among other demands. As a result, Sánchez is trying to use the legislature to override the judiciary and grant separatists the ability to break the law without consequences. For mere political expediency, the acting prime minister would violate the separation of powers and the equality before the law.
These rallies are a true popular reaction, reminiscent of the explosion of patriotism at the height of the pro-independence coup d’état in 2017. In response to the illegal referendum held by separatists, the balconies and windows of thousands of houses all over Spain were draped with the national flag, even in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and the most left-wing neighbourhoods of many Spanish cities. Nobody expected this reaction, least of all the political class, and it radically changed the perception that many Spaniards had of themselves. For the first time in many years, people showed their flag without fear and without caring if they were accused of being “fachas” (supporters of Franco regime) or fascists. Everything had changed, and in 2018 VOX burst into the Andalusian parliament, breaking the chessboard of Spanish politics.
We’re seeing a revival of that patriotic spirit today. The rallies at the Socialist Party’s headquarters began Friday, November 3rd, in Madrid, when several hundred people protested against Sanchez’s political maneuvers. Demonstrations spread over the weekend to other cities. On Monday, November 6th, there were rallies in front of PSOE headquarters in cities such as Barcelona, Cordoba, Jaen, Malaga, Oviedo, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Toledo, Valencia, and Zaragoza.
In Madrid, thousands gathered and several VOX leaders, including Santiago Abascal, were present. The rally was peaceful and there were quite a few elderly people and even children. However, when a few demonstrators struggled with the fence separating them from the law enforcement, the riot police charged and used tear gas canisters, a resource that was not used against the Catalan separatists who caused enormous destruction and injured numerous officers. The charge, ordered by socialist and government delegate, Francisco Martín, was completely disproportionate. Several National Police unions openly criticised what they described as “political orders.” Jupol, the majority union, even called for Martín’s “immediate resignation,” comparing the response to these protests against the leniency towards the 2019 riots in Barcelona, where the police were ordered to withstand attacks. For his part, Santiago Abascal announced that VOX would take legal action against the interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and the government delegate, and called on the police “not to comply with illegal orders.”
Pedro Sánchez called the gatherings an “attack on democracy.” The political class’ indignation has only provoked more protests. Police action has stoked tension and encouraged more volatile protestors to cause trouble. In the massive rally that took place in Ferraz Street, which was completely fenced off and monitored by riot police, the front rows were taken over by ‘radical’ youths, many with their faces covered, lighting flares, and even ostentatiously making the Roman salute in front of photographers and television cameras. The rest of the demonstrators booed the troublemakers, but, in the end, the police charged which caused riots, injuries, and destruction. This gave the demonstrators an image which fits the narrative that the Socialist Party and its media are building. They are using this to condemn all the demonstrators as ‘ultras,’ ‘extreme Right,’ ‘fascists,’ etc.
During the rally in Ferraz, another large group of demonstrators went from the Gran Vía to the Plaza de Neptuno, where they held a peaceful sit-in very close to the Congress of Deputies. Rallies in front of PSOE headquarters in other cities have passed without incident. In addition to the cities mentioned above, there have been rallies in Burgos, Ciudad Real, Logroño, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Valladolid, and others.
Sánchez, the Left, and their media have already started a campaign to discredit the protests. The PSOE has accused VOX and the Popular Party of being accomplices to the ‘extreme Right,’ which is ‘endangering’ coexistence and democracy. This is a lie, like almost everything that comes out of this government’s mouth. If anyone is threatening the rule of law, it is Pedro Sánchez and the Socialist Party, who have proven themselves capable of doing anything to stay in power. The mobilisation of thousands of Spaniards in more and more cities is a sign of hope, as were the flags in windows and balconies in 2017. This show of patriotism is proof that there are still Spaniards who care about their nation and their future. Everything is at stake, and now it is time for politicians, judges, and the highest levels of the state to prove themselves worthy.
There Are Still Spaniards Who Care
On November 7th, protestors waving Spanish flags and chanting anti-amnesty slogans surrounded the Spanish Socialist Party’s (PSOE) headquarters for the fifth night in a row. These ongoing demonstrations are in response to a proposed amnesty for the fugitive, Carles Puigdemont, and for Catalan separatist politicians who attempted a coup d’état in 2017. In the opinion of the supreme body of the Spanish judiciary, granting amnesty would bring about “the abolition of the rule of law in Spain.” Despite this, Pedro Sánchez, secretary-general of the PSOE and acting prime minister, hopes to pardon the separatists in exchange for their votes.
Sánchez needs the Junts, Puigdemont’s party, to support him in order to get an absolute majority and become president. The Junts have made it clear that they will not vote for him unless he grants a pardon, among other demands. As a result, Sánchez is trying to use the legislature to override the judiciary and grant separatists the ability to break the law without consequences. For mere political expediency, the acting prime minister would violate the separation of powers and the equality before the law.
These rallies are a true popular reaction, reminiscent of the explosion of patriotism at the height of the pro-independence coup d’état in 2017. In response to the illegal referendum held by separatists, the balconies and windows of thousands of houses all over Spain were draped with the national flag, even in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and the most left-wing neighbourhoods of many Spanish cities. Nobody expected this reaction, least of all the political class, and it radically changed the perception that many Spaniards had of themselves. For the first time in many years, people showed their flag without fear and without caring if they were accused of being “fachas” (supporters of Franco regime) or fascists. Everything had changed, and in 2018 VOX burst into the Andalusian parliament, breaking the chessboard of Spanish politics.
We’re seeing a revival of that patriotic spirit today. The rallies at the Socialist Party’s headquarters began Friday, November 3rd, in Madrid, when several hundred people protested against Sanchez’s political maneuvers. Demonstrations spread over the weekend to other cities. On Monday, November 6th, there were rallies in front of PSOE headquarters in cities such as Barcelona, Cordoba, Jaen, Malaga, Oviedo, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Toledo, Valencia, and Zaragoza.
In Madrid, thousands gathered and several VOX leaders, including Santiago Abascal, were present. The rally was peaceful and there were quite a few elderly people and even children. However, when a few demonstrators struggled with the fence separating them from the law enforcement, the riot police charged and used tear gas canisters, a resource that was not used against the Catalan separatists who caused enormous destruction and injured numerous officers. The charge, ordered by socialist and government delegate, Francisco Martín, was completely disproportionate. Several National Police unions openly criticised what they described as “political orders.” Jupol, the majority union, even called for Martín’s “immediate resignation,” comparing the response to these protests against the leniency towards the 2019 riots in Barcelona, where the police were ordered to withstand attacks. For his part, Santiago Abascal announced that VOX would take legal action against the interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and the government delegate, and called on the police “not to comply with illegal orders.”
Pedro Sánchez called the gatherings an “attack on democracy.” The political class’ indignation has only provoked more protests. Police action has stoked tension and encouraged more volatile protestors to cause trouble. In the massive rally that took place in Ferraz Street, which was completely fenced off and monitored by riot police, the front rows were taken over by ‘radical’ youths, many with their faces covered, lighting flares, and even ostentatiously making the Roman salute in front of photographers and television cameras. The rest of the demonstrators booed the troublemakers, but, in the end, the police charged which caused riots, injuries, and destruction. This gave the demonstrators an image which fits the narrative that the Socialist Party and its media are building. They are using this to condemn all the demonstrators as ‘ultras,’ ‘extreme Right,’ ‘fascists,’ etc.
During the rally in Ferraz, another large group of demonstrators went from the Gran Vía to the Plaza de Neptuno, where they held a peaceful sit-in very close to the Congress of Deputies. Rallies in front of PSOE headquarters in other cities have passed without incident. In addition to the cities mentioned above, there have been rallies in Burgos, Ciudad Real, Logroño, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Valladolid, and others.
Sánchez, the Left, and their media have already started a campaign to discredit the protests. The PSOE has accused VOX and the Popular Party of being accomplices to the ‘extreme Right,’ which is ‘endangering’ coexistence and democracy. This is a lie, like almost everything that comes out of this government’s mouth. If anyone is threatening the rule of law, it is Pedro Sánchez and the Socialist Party, who have proven themselves capable of doing anything to stay in power. The mobilisation of thousands of Spaniards in more and more cities is a sign of hope, as were the flags in windows and balconies in 2017. This show of patriotism is proof that there are still Spaniards who care about their nation and their future. Everything is at stake, and now it is time for politicians, judges, and the highest levels of the state to prove themselves worthy.
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