Thousands of Spaniards marched in Madrid to demand the resignation of Pedro Sánchez.

Tens of thousands of people mobilized this Saturday in Madrid to demand the resignation of the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, in one of the largest opposition demonstrations in recent years against the socialist leader. The so-called “March for Dignity” traversed the center of the Spanish capital under strong criticism of the PSOE, the rise of corruption scandals, and the political pacts promoted by the ruling party.

The mobilization was called by the platform Spanish Civil Society, made up of more than 150 civil associations, and was supported by the Popular Party and Vox. According to figures from the Government Delegation in Madrid, around 40,000 people participated, although the organizers raised the number to 120,000 attendees.

The demonstrators marched from Plaza de Colón to the vicinity of the Palace of La Moncloa carrying Spanish flags and banners with slogans such as “Dissolution of the Sánchez mafia” and “Spain is held hostage by a corrupt mafia.” Strong criticisms were also heard against the government's immigration policy and calls for early elections.

The protest was heavily marked by the judicial advance of the so-called “Plus Ultra case,” which involves former socialist president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for alleged influence peddling, money laundering, and links to Venezuelan oil businesses and companies connected to the Chinese Communist Party. The investigation generated a huge political impact in Spain and further deepened the internal crisis of the PSOE.

The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, participated in the mobilization and stated that “Spain is held hostage by a corrupt mafia” that “impoverishes citizens and destroys institutions.” The Popular Party also demanded the immediate calling of general elections and accused Sánchez's government of facing a crisis of political legitimacy.

The president of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, further hardened the opposition discourse and stated that Sánchez leads “the weakest and most corrupt government in Spanish democratic history.” She also questioned the links of Spanish socialism with chavismo and various sectors of the Latin American left.

At the end of the demonstration, incidents occurred when some groups attempted to approach La Moncloa. The police charged to prevent the advance, resulting in three arrests and seven agents with minor injuries.

The massive protest reflects the growing political wear and tear faced by Pedro Sánchez after months marked by judicial investigations, corruption accusations, and strong social and parliamentary tensions. Meanwhile, the opposition is trying to capitalize on citizen discontent to force an early election and further weaken the socialist government.