Feijóo insists that Sánchez should concede to democratic principles and promptly schedule elections in Madrid.
3 min read. In the heat of Madrid, the leader of the People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, took a stand, demanding the Pedro Sánchez government to "give up" to democracy and hold elections. He spoke before thousands, calling for immediate polls, as no one voted for the current situation, he argued.
"Time to yield to democracy. Elections now, because no one voted for this," he declared, expressing his readiness to "oversee a revolution of decency and freedom." According to Feijóo, Spain is prepared, and all that's left is for Sánchez to find the courage to organize elections and let the citizens decide.
Chants of "Sánchez, resignation" and "president, president" echoed the plaza, as Feijóo accused the president of "hiding," "lying," and "running away." The PP leader emphasized that Spain needs a revolution — the revolution of decency and freedom. He promised to lead it, from the streets to the ballot boxes, with the help of all honest and free citizens of the country.
The day saw the latest of six demonstrations organized by the PP against the Pedro Sánchez government, which took place in Plaza de España. With a slogan of "mafia or democracy," the gathering drew citizens equipped with hats, sunglasses, Spanish flags, and banners, rejecting the current Executive. The Government Delegation estimated between 45,000 to 50,000 attendees, while the PP raised the number to 100,000.
Several autonomous leaders and former presidents expressed support for Feijóo during the event, praising the unity of the PP and its determination to change the situation. In a subtle criticism of Vox, which did not support the demonstration, the PP leader emphasized it was about more than party symbols; it was about decency, democratic dignity, and Spain.
Madrid's president also delivered a fiery speech, labeling the government as "corrupt," and vowing that Spain deserves better. The corruption accusations followed recent leaked audio recordings alleging efforts by the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) to discredit the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard. The UCO is involved in several corruption investigations targeting individuals close to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, including his wife.
The response from the Sánchez government and PSOE has been dismissive. The Minister of Education, Pilar Alegría, mocked the protest's turnout, comparing it unfavorably to a recent concert by the rock duo Estopa. The government has also faced criticism and pressure from the opposition, which accuses it of corruption and of engaging in a "dirty war" against the UCO to interfere with ongoing investigations.
For the PSOE, the demonstration was a "flop" and the response in the streets "meager." They labeled Feijóo as a "failure" and suggested that the Spanish people cannot take any more of the PP's way of doing politics. In a separate event in Madrid, ministers from the PSOE criticized the PP, labeling the protest as a "desperate act" and "political desperation by Núñez Feijóo."
[Source: Reuters]
[Enrichment Data: The leaked audio recordings contain conversations between the Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez's political advisers discussing means of undermining an internal police unit, UCO, that has been investigating corruption cases related to officials, ministers, and the ruling party PSOE. The investigations have so far implicated the prime minister's wife, Paula Valenciano, as a beneficiary of a business deal. These allegations have been strongly denied by the prime minister, who has called the recordings a political smear campaign.]
- Alberto Núñez Feijóo called for Spain to undergo a revolution of decency and freedom, following a demonstration organized by his party, the People's Party (PP), which protested against the corruption allegations involving the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
- The latest demonstration against the Pedro Sánchez government, held in Plaza de España, was headed by Feijóo and criticized the government's handling of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news, while the government and PSOE dismissed the protest, calling it a desperate act and political desperation on the part of the PP leader.
