Why are thousands protesting against Spanish PM? Will corruption charges lead to polls in Madrid

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3 days ago

#FPWorld | Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of central Madrid to protest against Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, demanding snap polls in the country. Here's why read more
Tens of Thousands of people took to the streets of central Madrid to protest against Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez , demanding an early general election. The protests are happening at a time when Sánchez's party, his administration, and his family continue to be embroiled in a succession of corruption allegations.
The demonstration took place on Sunday and was called by Spain's conservative opposition, the People's Party, The Guardian reported. During the marches, the protesters raised the slogans of 'mafia or democracy'. According to the figures released by the central government's delegation to the region, around 45,000 to 50,000 people took part in the protests. Meanwhile, the organisers noted that 100,000 people were on the streets.
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Since last year, Sánchez's government and his inner circle have faced a series of corruption allegations . Pressure on his Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) intensified further recently after a former member of the party was accused of trying to wage a smear campaign against the Guardia Civil police unit investigating the prime minister's wife, Begoña Gómez, his brother, David Sánchez, and the former transport minister José Luis Ábalos.
The erstwhile party member Leire Díaz cut off ties with POSE after recordings were leaked in which she appeared to offer judicial leniency in return for compromising information on senior members of the unit. Díaz has already denied working on behalf of the prime minister or the party, claiming that she was researching for a book on corruption.
Demonstrators call Sánchez a 'traitor'
The demonstrators congregated in the midday heat of the Plaza de España, carrying placards with 'Sánchez traitor' and 'government resign' written on them. During the protests, PP's leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, addressed the thundering crowd and called for a snap election.
'Spain needs a revolution of decency and freedom – and we will lead that revolution from the streets and at the ballot boxes,' he said in his address to the protesters. 'Mr Sánchez, stop hiding, stop lying and stop running. Spain knows only too well who you are and what you have done. Yield to democracy. Call an election: we want one now because no one voted for this, not even your supporters," he furthered.
Meanwhile, the prime minister has accused his opponents of conducting a 'harassment and bullying' campaign against him and his wife. He argued that all the allegations levelled against him and his family were false and designed to bring about his 'personal and political collapse'.
What are the corruption scandals brewing in the Sánchez family?
It is pertinent to note that Gómez is being investigated for allegedly being involved in corruption and peddling practices after a complaint was filed by the pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a self-styled trade union with far-right links that has a long history of using the courts to pursue political targets.
The group accused the Spanish premier's wife of using her influence to secure sponsors for a university master's degree course that she ran. The Spanish Prime Minister described the case against his wife as baseless and 'an ugly fit-up driven by the far-right groups behind the complaint'.
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Meanwhile, Sánchez's brother, David, is facing trial over allegations of using influence, peddling and other offences in a case that also began with accusations from Manos Limpias and other groups. David has denied all the charges hurled against him.
Sánchez's administration is also under scrutiny after it was found that an assistant to Ábalos, once a close ally and confidant of the prime minister, had been arrested on suspicion of taking payments to facilitate contracts for face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the PP, which was ousted seven years ago, has its share of corruption scandals. The party was also criticised over its handling of the deadly floods last year in Valencia, one of the regions it governs. Hence, it's safe to say that the Spanish political landscape is not free from corruption on both sides of the aisle.