Overview
- The conservative Partido Popular organized the demonstration, with leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo demanding snap elections and the prime minister’s departure.
- Spain’s Supreme Court last week ordered pre-trial detention for former transport minister José Luis Ábalos and ex-adviser Koldo García over alleged bribe-linked mask procurements.
- Turnout estimates diverged sharply, as the PP cited roughly 80,000 participants while official counts from the city and Interior Ministry were about 40,000.
- Pedro Sánchez has rejected calls for early elections and denies illegal financing in his party as investigations continue, including cases reported to involve his wife and brother.
- Government spokeswoman Pilar Alegría argued the PP should answer for its own corruption record, referencing cases like Gürtel, while figures such as Isabel Díaz Ayuso, José Luis Martínez-Almeida and Mariano Rajoy attended the protest.