Spanish demonstrators took to the streets of Madrid to protest the government's potential decision to provide amnesty to people who took part in a failed push for Catalan independence six years ago.
Roughly 40,000 residents gathered on Sunday to protest the possible decision, throwing the country into its worst political crisis in the past few decades. The divisive issue of amnesty started after the inconclusive general election held in July.
Spanish Protests Against Catalan Separatists' Amnesty
The conservative People's Party (PP) finished first by defeating the governing Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) but failed well short of an overall majority. Despite the PP's victory, the party, led by Alberto Nunez Feijoo, is seen as having little chance of securing the necessary parliamentary support to form a new government during a congressional vote this week.
Instead, the numbers favor the PSOE, led by the acting prime minister, Pedro Sanchez. However, to have any chance of forming a new administration, Sanchez must secure the support of the hardline Catalan independence party led by former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont, as per The Guardian.
Six years ago, Puigdemont fled Spain to avoid arrest over his role in masterminding the unilateral and unlawful push for independence. He has since insisted that his support will be conditional on granting amnesty to him and hundreds of other Catalans whom the Spanish court wants for their involvement in the attempt at secession.
Two years ago, Sanchez pardoned nine Catalan independence leaders who were convicted over the secessionist push, and he has now refused to rule anything out. However, the PP has seized on the possibility of an amnesty to rally its supporters and portray the PSOE leader as cowardly, beholden to Catalan separatists, and hellbent on remaining in office.
The PP was also responsible for organizing the rally held on Sunday and putting attendance at around 60,000. On the other hand, the central government's delegation to Madrid said that its estimates put the number at around 40,000 people.
Ruling Spanish Government
Feijoo told his supporters at the Madrid rally that withdrawing criminal cases against the Catalan separatists would amount to granting amnesty to "coup plotters." a 72-year-old pensioner, Gregorio Casteneda, traveled from Santander on Spain's north coast to show his opposition to any form of amnesty for the separatists, according to Reuters.
The resident said he did not favor the Spanish government that the people currently have ruling over them. He added that the situation is a disaster because it will divide the country.
Many PP figures participated on stage in the Madrid rally, including Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida and regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso. Two of Spain's former leaders, Mariano Rajoy and Jose Maria Aznar, were also part of the protests.
On Tuesday, the lower house of the Spanish parliament is scheduled to vote on Feijoo's candidacy for prime minister. DW News said that the official's bide is widely expected to fall short and would pave the way for Sanchez to put forward his own candidacy.
