Madrid sees large-scale protests demanding Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s resignation amid corruption scandals. At least seven policemen were injured during clashes with protesters as tens of thousands marched on Saturday.
A small group attempted to breach barriers around Sanchez’s residence but the rally remained largely peaceful. Police detained masked individuals near Moncloa Palace, where Sanchez resides with his family.
Three arrests were made and demonstrators carried banners demanding resignation alongside national flags. The opposition People’s Party and far-right Vox party also participated in the “March for Dignity.”
A Spanish court announced on Tuesday that former Socialist prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was under investigation for allegedly leading an influence-peddling and money-laundering network, further damaging the leftist government.
Sanchez briefly considered resigning in April 2024 after a judge opened an investigation into his wife Begoña Gomez. She denies any wrongdoing and a prosecutor has asked to close the case, which was initiated by far-right groups.
Organizers claimed 80,000 people attended but the Spanish government representative in Madrid estimated around 40,000 participated.