Tens of thousands of Spaniards converged in Madrid on Sunday to protest against potential plans by acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists. This move was seen as an attempt to secure his position in office after failing to secure victory in a recent election.
Amidst a sea of waving Spanish flags, supporters of the opposition conservative People’s Party (PP) traveled from various regions of Spain to participate in the rally held in Madrid. Authorities estimated that a staggering 40,000 people joined this demonstration, expressing their firm stance against amnesty for Catalan separatists.
Sanchez, who secured a second-place finish in a July election, is exploring the possibility of remaining in office if he gains the support of exiled former Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont. Puigdemont’s Junts per Catalunya party holds seven seats in parliament, making their support pivotal.
However, Puigdemont, who is wanted in Spain for his involvement in Catalonia’s attempted secession, has made it clear that dropping legal actions against fellow separatists is a precondition for his support.
Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the PP, which garnered the most votes on July 23, staunchly opposes any amnesty for those involved in the 2017 independence referendum in Catalonia – a referendum that was deemed illegal by the courts. He vehemently expressed that granting amnesty to these individuals would essentially condone their actions as “coup plotters.”
Gregorio Casteneda, a 72-year-old pensioner who traveled from Santander on Spain’s north coast to join the protest, voiced his disapproval of the government’s stance. He highlighted concerns that such actions could further divide Spain, describing the situation as a “disaster.”
Meanwhile, Pedro Sanchez held his own political rally in Gava, near Catalonia’s regional capital, Barcelona. While he did not explicitly mention amnesty, he emphasized the Socialists’ commitment to healing the social divisions stemming from the Catalan crisis. In 2021, Sanchez had granted pardons to nine separatists imprisoned for their roles in the push for independence.
As the political landscape unfolds, Alberto Nunez Feijoo is set to initiate a vote for the position of prime minister on September 27. However, the prospects of his victory appear slim, given the PP’s unwavering stance against concessions to separatists. Should Feijoo fail to secure support, Pedro Sanchez will have an opportunity to test his ability to garner the necessary backing.
