Massive Anti-Govt Protests in Spain; 7 Police Injured Near PM's Residence

Thousands of people marched through the capital city of Madrid demanding the resignation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez following a series of corruption scandals.

At least seven police officers were injured in clashes during the demonstration on Saturday (May 23) local time.

According to a report by Reuters, a group of protesters attempted to breach security barricades surrounding Sánchez's official residence during the Madrid demonstration, though the rally otherwise concluded peacefully.

Footage broadcast on Spanish television showed police detaining several masked individuals on the main road leading to the Moncloa Palace, Sánchez's official residence.

Law enforcement authorities confirmed that three individuals were arrested during the incident.

The protest was organized by the Spanish Civil Society Association under the banner "March for Dignity."

Demonstrators took to the streets carrying the red-and-gold national flags of Spain and holding banners that read, "Resignation of the Socialist Mafia."

Leaders from the opposition People's Party and the far-right Vox party also joined the protest rally.

Mounting Political Pressure
The unrest comes after a Spanish court announced last Tuesday that a formal investigation is underway against former Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for alleged influence peddling and running a money laundering ring.

The probe has mounted fresh pressure on the left-wing government. Zapatero, a close ally of current Prime Minister Sánchez, has strongly denied all allegations.

Earlier in April 2024, Sánchez had temporarily considered resigning when an investigation was launched into his wife, Begoña Gómez.

However, he later publicly defended his family, labeling the legal cases as politically motivated and driven by pressure from the far-right.