Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid on Sunday to reject a government plan to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists over the country’s failure to bid for independence in 2007.
Madrid has been rocked by numerous protests over the proposed amnesty, and Sunday’s rally was organized by the conservative opposition Partido Popular (PP).
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijó, former prime minister Mariano Rajoy and Madrid region president Isabel Díaz Ayuso also took part in the demonstration.
Police estimated that 45,000 people gathered in Plaza de Espana in the center of the capital.
Participants carried many Spanish and EU flags, but also held placards reading “No to amnesty” and “Traitor to Sánchez” after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the center-left Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Ta.
Nuñez Feijou said a majority in the country rejected the amnesty deal and told supporters at a rally: “No one will force a country we did not vote for.” .
Sánchez’s government relies on agreement
Following a snap election held in July, Sanchez’s government won another four-year term in a vote of confidence in Congress last November.
However, the main condition for Catalonia’s parties to agree to support Sánchez’s coalition government was an amnesty bill for those involved in the 2007 secession bid.
The bill is scheduled to be debated in Spain’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday and, if passed, would bring legal action against hundreds of Catalan activists who are being investigated or prosecuted for their role in Catalonia’s 2007 failed declaration of independence. It will be prevented. .
If the measure is enacted, it is expected to take several months to pass.
jcg/lo (dpa, AFP)