Tens of thousands march in Madrid to demand prime minister's resignation
Mass Protest Erupts Amid Corruption Scandals
MADRID, May 23 (Reuters) - At least seven police were injured in clashes with protesters, officials said, as tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after a series of corruption scandals.
Clashes and Security Measures
A small group of protesters tried to break through barriers around Sanchez's residence during the rally which was otherwise largely peaceful.
Police detained a group of masked people on the main road approaching the Moncloa Palace, where the Socialist leader lives with his family, images on Spanish television showed. Three people were arrested, police said.
Protest Organization and Participation
Demonstrators carried banners marked with "Resignation of the socialist mafia" and other slogans, alongside scores of gold and red national flags in the "March for Dignity", organised by the Spanish Civil Society association.
Leaders from the opposition People's Party and the far-right Vox party also took part.
Corruption Investigations and Political Fallout
Zapatero Investigation
A Spanish court announced on Tuesday that former Spanish Socialist prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was being investigated for allegedly leading an influence-peddling and money-laundering network, in another blow to the leftist government.
Zapatero, a key ally of the current prime minister, denied any wrongdoing.
Sanchez Family Under Scrutiny
Begoña Gomez Case
Sanchez briefly considered resigning in April 2024 after a judge opened an investigation into his wife Begoña Gomez. He has publicly defended his family, saying the cases are politically motivated and driven by far-right opponents.
She denies any wrongdoing and a Spanish prosecutor last month asked the investigating judge to close the case, which was brought by far-right groups.
Protest Attendance and Official Response
Organizers said 80,000 people took part in the protest. The Spanish government representative in Madrid put the number at about 40,000.
(Reporting by Graham Keeley, Michael Gore; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
