Tens of thousands rally to protest Spanish prime minister
Sunday's protest was organized under the slogan "mafia or democracy" by the opposition conservative People's party, and drew between 45,000 and 50,000 people, according to official estimates. Organizers put the attendance at closer to 100,000, the Guardian reported.
Sanchez, his family and his Spanish Socialist Workers' party, have faced corruption allegations over the past year, but have intensified in recent days as a former member of his party was accused of initiating a campaign against the Guardia Civil police after officers investigated Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez, his brother, David Sanchez, and former transportation minister Jose Luis Abalos.
Demonstrators gathered Sunday in the midday sun in Plaza de Espana, carrying signs that read "Sanchez traitor" and "government resign." People's party leader Alberto Nunex Feijoo renewed calls for a snap election.
"Spain needs a revolution of decent and freedom - and will lead that revolution from the streets and at the ballot boxes, Freijoo told the protestors. "Mr. Sanchez, 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.
Sanchez has pushed back on his opponents, accusing them of conducting a harassment and bullying operation against him and his family, calling allegations against his wife are designed to bring about his "personal and political collapse."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tycoon who helped bring F1 to Singapore pleads guilty in rare graft case
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng pleaded guilty to one charge of abetting the obstruction of justice on Monday in part of a landmark case that led to the jailing of former transport minister S. Iswaran for obtaining valuable items as a public servant last year. However, both the prosecution and defence agreed to grant Ong judicial mercy given his chronic illness, and argued for him to be fined in lieu of imprisonment. He will be sentenced on Aug 15. A second charge of abetting an offence was also taken into consideration. Judicial mercy gives courts the authority to give a more lenient sentence in exceptional mitigating circumstances, such as a terminal illness or when imprisonment could pose a high risk of endangering a life. The defence submitted that Ong suffers from multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer that affects his blood plasma cells and renders him immuno-compromised. The case has been the subject of major intrigue in Singapore, a wealthy financial hub that offers ministers salaries of more than S$1 million ($775,000) to deter graft and prides itself on its reputation for clean governance. Ong had informed Iswaran that his associates had been questioned and a private flight manifest with Iswaran's name on it for a flight from Singapore to Doha had been seized by the corruption watchdog during investigations. This led Iswaran to ask Ong to issue an invoice through Singapore GP, promoter of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix, to bill him for the trip, which prosecutors say Iswaran knew would make it less likely that he would be investigated. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in prison in October 2024, the first time a former cabinet member had ever been jailed in Singapore, on charges of obstructing justice and receiving more than $300,000 worth of gifts. In February, Iswaran was put under house arrest for the remainder of his sentence. Ong gave Iswaran tickets to English Premier League soccer matches, the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, London musicals and a ride on a private jet among other favours. Iswaran was an adviser to the Singapore Grand Prix's steering committee, while Ong, 79, owns the rights to the race. The billionaire stepped down as managing director of Singapore-listed Hotel Properties in April.
Bloomberg
25 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Neutrality Got the Swiss Nowhere on Tariffs
After the European Union, it's now Switzerland's turn to bemoan humiliation and surrender at the hands of the Trump administration. Politicians and companies are reeling from the shock of a new tariff of 39%, well above the EU's 15%, which could cost the country 1% of GDP. For Swiss drugmakers like Novartis AG, the stay of execution granted to the sector feels temporary, with a possible 25% pharmaceutical tariff to come if no deal is done. Local media have compared it to the Swiss defeat at Marignano at the hands of the French in 1515. This is obviously not an emerging-market-style crisis moment: Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world, and Rolex watches are somewhat less price-sensitive than Volkswagen AG cars. The Swiss stock market, which quickly recovered early losses, is taking solace in the fact that 39% feels like a blustery prelude to more concessions and a handshake. Already, the Alpine country is scrambling to offer more goodies to an irate US administration. One might imagine more EU-style pledges are coming, such as buying more US energy.
Wall Street Journal
25 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
More Israelis Question Morality of War in Gaza
TEL AVIV—Dor Eilon held up a poster of an emaciated Gazan child for the first time at an antiwar protest last week. The 29-year-old lawyer had joined dozens of other Israelis as they stood silently in the summer heat at a square in Tel Aviv with the photos in hand. 'It's not moral to ignore this,' said Eilon, who began attending protests to free the hostages several months ago, but now says she feels a duty to highlight the plight of Gazans. 'Usually I hand out stickers and people smile at me. And here people look away from me.'
