MADRID —
Tens of thousands of people filled Madrid’s Plaza de España on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over a series of corruption scandals involving his government and inner circle. The rally, organized by the conservative Popular Party (PP), called for early elections and accused the Socialist-led administration of undermining democratic institutions.
Protesters waved Spanish flags and chanted “Pedro Sánchez, resign!” in response to the latest political controversy, sparked by leaked audio recordings. The recordings allegedly implicate former Socialist Party member Leire Díez in efforts to discredit police investigations into corruption claims targeting Sánchez’s wife, brother, and former minister José Luis Ábalos.
Díez has denied any wrongdoing, stating she was independently conducting research for a book, not acting on behalf of the government. She has since stepped down from the Socialist Workers’ Party.
Addressing the crowd, PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused the Sánchez government of engaging in “mafia practices,” declaring:
“This government has tainted everything — politics, institutions, and the separation of powers.”
According to the PP, more than 100,000 people joined the protest, held under the banner “Mafia or Democracy.” Government officials, however, estimated the crowd at 45,000 to 50,000.
The demonstration comes amid growing discontent over multiple corruption-related investigations, most notably the “Koldo Case.” The case involves allegations that Koldo García Izaguirre, a former adviser to Transport Minister Ábalos, funneled inflated COVID-era public contracts to select companies in exchange for kickbacks.
In April 2024, Sánchez publicly considered stepping down after a Madrid court launched an investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez, over accusations of influence peddling and business corruption. The complaint was filed by Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a far-right group claiming Gómez leveraged her position to benefit private firms.
Sánchez has strongly rejected the accusations, describing the investigations and leaks as part of a politically motivated campaign by right-wing forces to destabilize his government.
Despite the scandals and growing public outrage, Spain’s next general election is not scheduled until 2027. Recent polls, however, suggest the PP is gaining ground and currently holds a slight lead over Sánchez’s Socialist Party.
“This government’s expiration date passed long ago,” said protester Blanca Requejo, 46, speaking to AFP. “People are exhausted.”
Sánchez first came to power in 2018 after leading a no-confidence vote that ousted former PP Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose administration was also plagued by corruption scandals.
