The Popular Party (PP) will take to the streets on May 26th in Madrid to defend democracy, judicial independence, and freedom of the press. This decision comes after President Pedro Sánchez initiated an offensive against “disinformation” that he believes his government and his wife, Begoña Gómez, are facing. The PP has previously organized rallies against the amnesty for those involved in the Catalan independence process, but this new protest aims to address a wider range of issues. The party’s leaders have emphasized the importance of civic mobilization to combat what they see as threats to democracy.
The accusations made by Sánchez regarding the spread of misinformation by certain media outlets and the PP have only fueled the tensions between the two parties. PP spokesperson Borja Sémper has called for the Spanish people to protest against the amnesty, the spread of false information, and corruption allegations against the government. This sentiment has been echoed by PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who sees the upcoming rally as a way to uphold democratic values in the face of perceived threats. The PP is using these issues as ammunition against the Socialist government, with claims of autocracy and widespread deception.
The PP’s last major demonstration took place in Madrid on January 28th, with tens of thousands of attendees protesting against various government policies. The party has been organizing similar rallies since 2023, with significant turnouts in different cities across Spain. The PP has not yet clarified if they will invite other parties to join the upcoming protest, including Vox, the far-right party that is gaining traction in Europe. The decision to hold a rally at the beginning of the European election campaign has sparked debate, but the PP defends it by pointing to the recent demonstration organized by the PSOE in support of Pedro Sánchez.
In addition to the rally in Madrid, the PP is focusing on the campaign in Catalonia, where the party faces challenges but is expected to gain seats due to the decline of Ciudadanos. Several regional leaders, including Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Juan Manuel Moreno, and Alfonso Rueda, are participating in campaign events in Catalonia to support PP candidates. Feijóo himself will be present at the campaign’s closing events in the region. The PP sees the current political climate as a time of critical institutional deterioration and is mobilizing its leaders to campaign vigorously in the lead-up to the elections.
Feijóo has suggested that Sánchez should resign over his wife’s business dealings, drawing comparisons with a recent case in Portugal where the Prime Minister resigned over similar issues. The PP continues to criticize Sánchez’s leadership and is determined to push back against what they see as a threatening trend towards autocracy. The upcoming rally in Madrid is seen as a crucial opportunity for the PP to rally public support and challenge the government’s policies and actions. The PP’s confrontation with the Socialist government is intensifying as the campaign season heats up, with both parties vying for public support and electoral success.
