Thousands protest in Madrid against government’s Catalonia policy

Demonstrators waving Spanish flags filled the Plaza de Colon in the city centre in the largest protest Sanchez has faced, with their slogan "For a united Spain, elections now!" a reminder of the pressure on his minority government.

Catalonia, Spain Catalonia, Madrid protest, Pedro Sanchez, Catalonia refrendum, Spain protest, Protest in Spain, World news, Spain news, Indian express, latest news — Madrid: Thousands of demonstrators hold Spanish flags during a protest in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday, Feb.10, 2019. (AP)

Thousands of people demonstrated in Madrid on Sunday against Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s proposed talks to ease political tensions in Catalonia, in a protest organised by centre-right and far-right opposition parties.

Demonstrators waving Spanish flags filled the Plaza de Colon in the city centre in the largest protest Sanchez has faced, with their slogan “For a united Spain, elections now!” a reminder of the pressure on his minority government.

The Socialist government’s proposal last Tuesday to appoint a rapporteur in talks among political parties to address the Catalan independence crisis galvanized the opposition, which has deemed it a betrayal and a surrender to pressure from Catalan separatists. The opposition has called for early elections.

Sanchez, who replaced a conservative government last June, holds just a quarter of the seats in parliament and relies on backing from anti-austerity party Podemos, Catalan nationalists and other small parties to pass laws.

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Right wing demonstration in Madrid against PM Sanchez

Large crowds of right-wing and extreme right supporters gather in Madrid to demonstrate against the head of the country's government Pedro Sanchez and calling for him to step down.

The government faces a key vote next Wednesday on its 2019 budget proposal, which will likely fail without the support of Catalan parties. But those parties have said their vote for the budget is conditional on the Catalan talks including the issue of independence, something the government will not include.