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PoliticsSpain

Spain sees mass rally against Catalan separatist amnesty

November 18, 2023

Tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Madrid two days after Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez agreed to an amnesty law in return for support from Catalan nationalist parties to form a government.

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Protesters waving Spanish and EU flags in Madrid, with an extra-large Spanish flag waving tall in the center
The protest was one of the largest in a series of demonstrations against Sanchez and the proposed amnesty lawImage: Diego Radamés/EUROPA PRESS/dpa/picture alliance

Around 170,000 people marched through the streets of Madrid on Saturday in what authorities said was the largest protest to date against a proposed amnesty law for Catalan separatists.

Spain's Socialists agreed to the amnesty two days earlier in order to form government with the support of Catalan and Basque nationalist parties.

Protesters waved Spanish flag held signs which read "Sanchez traitor" and "Don't sell Spain."

Opposition leaders slam Sanchez

Madrid has been rocked by a number of protests over the proposed amnesty, and Saturday's rally came after Socialist leader Sanchez secured enough support to start his next four-year term as prime minister.

An aerial shot of protesters waving Spanish flags
Opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo and far-right leader Santiago Abascal both attended the rallyImage: Burak Akbulut/AA/picture alliance

Spain's conservative People's Party narrowly came first in the election but did not win enough seats in parliament outright to form government, paving the way for Sanchez to negotiate with smaller parties.

"They know they don't have the votes to do what they're doing. That's why we're telling them with this demonstration," People's Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo said.

The leader of far-right party Vox, Santiago Abascal, was also present at the protest.

He said the proposed amnesty was "as serious as a coup d'etat."

What is the amnesty about?

Sanchez has promised to give amnesty to around 400 people involved in Catalonia's unilateral independence bid in 2014.

The independence referendum had been declared illegal by Spanish courts and resulted in Spain's worst political crisis in decades.

Protesters holding Spanish and EU flags in Madrid
Some protesters called Sanchez a 'traitor' over the amnesty moveImage: Europa Press/abaca/picture alliance

Sanchez has defended the law, arguing that it would help diffuse tensions in Catalonia.

However, it has been criticized by four judicial associations who say that it threatens the rule of law and the separation of powers.

zc/rs (Reuters, AFP, dpa)