Government
Protests in Madrid against amnesty for separatists
There were renewed protests in Madrid, Spain. photo
© Paul White/AP
The police used tear gas and batons during the demonstrations. There are injuries and some arrests.
Once again several thousand people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Socialist Party (PSOE). Madrid demonstrated against the planned amnesty for Catalan separatists.
Some of the demonstrators threw stones and other objects at the police on Tuesday evening, some showed the Hitler salute and waved flags of the Franco dictatorship, as could be seen on television images. The police used tear gas and batons against apparently right-wing extremist participants in the rally. According to media reports, at least six demonstrators and a police officer were slightly injured and three people were arrested.
Sánchez must form a government
The caretaker government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wants to secure the support of Catalonia’s two separatist parties represented in the lower house for another four-year term with an amnesty law and other concessions. The largest opposition party, the conservative People’s Party (PP), and the right-wing populist Vox vehemently reject such concessions. The day before, thousands had demonstrated in front of the PSOE headquarters.
Sánchez has already reached an agreement with the left-wing Catalan separatist party ERC. Negotiations are currently underway with separatist leader Carles Puigdemont’s liberal Junts. Sánchez has until November 27th to form a government. If he fails, he will have to be elected again on January 14th.
The amnesty is intended, among other things, to benefit those separatists who took part in a failed secession attempt in 2017; According to the current status of the talks, but also the “Catalanistas”, who have come into conflict with the Spanish justice system on other occasions before or since.