Tens of thousands of people gathered in central Madrid on Saturday to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez amid a string of corruption scandals touching his inner circle. Organizers, the Spanish Civil Society association, estimated about 80,000 attendees, while the government put the figure closer to 40,000. Leaders from the opposition People’s Party and the far-right Vox also joined the demonstration.
The protest remained largely peaceful, though television footage showed a small group attempting to breach barriers around Sánchez’s official residence. Police said three people were arrested and that at least seven officers were injured in scuffles with some demonstrators.
The rallies follow a series of high-profile developments that have rattled Sánchez’s Socialist-led coalition. A Spanish court announced that former Socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has been placed under criminal investigation in connection with alleged corruption, a move that has further unsettled the political landscape.
That case comes on the heels of other graft allegations involving people close to Sánchez. Last month his wife, Begoña Gómez, was formally charged with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds. Gómez has denied any wrongdoing. Sánchez has described the accusations as an effort by the right to weaken his coalition and said he intends to remain in office.
Sánchez’s younger brother, David Sánchez, is also scheduled to stand trial this month on influence peddling charges; he denies the allegations.
Sánchez first became prime minister in 2018 after leading a no-confidence motion that toppled the previous conservative government. Despite the mounting legal and political pressure, he has pledged to continue governing as investigations proceed.
Organizers and opposition figures said Saturday’s turnout demonstrated widespread public frustration with perceived corruption and the need for accountability. Supporters of Sánchez and members of his coalition have called for due process and cautioned against politicizing the courts while investigations are under way.