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Thousands of people rallied in Madrid on Saturday (May 23) at the call of the Spanish Civil Society Association to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over multiple corruption scandals.
The non-profit organization said about 80,000 people took part in the protest, far exceeding the government’s estimate of 40,000. Leaders of the opposition People’s Party and the far-right Vox Party were also part of the massive protest.
The rally was largely peaceful, with minor disturbances, as some protesters attempted to break through the barriers surrounding the prime minister’s official residence, television footage showed.
Three people were arrested, according to police. At least seven police officers were injured.
A Spanish court announced on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has been placed under criminal investigation for allegedly using political influence to secure government financial support for an airline called Plus Ultra.
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In recent years, former Socialist Prime Minister Zapatero has been a key ally of Sanchez. However, last month, Sanchez’s wife, Begona Gomez, was accused of embezzlement, political influence peddling, business corruption, and embezzlement by a Spanish group called Manos Limpias. She denies the charges. The prime minister’s younger brother, David Sanchez, is also due to go on trial this month on influence-peddling charges.
Deutsche Welle’s reporting contributed to this article.
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