2023–2024 Spanish protests: Difference between revisions

| title = 2023–2024 Spanish protests (2023–2024)

| date = 29 October 2023–20242023 – 26 May 2024<br/>({{age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=10|day1=29|year1=2023|day2=26|month2=5|year2=2024}})

| causes = * Negotiations to form a new government headed by [[Pedro Sánchez]]'s [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]].

* Economic and political concessions to [[List of active separatist movements in Europe#Spain|pro-independence]] parties.{{refn|group="note"|The [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]] reached investiture agreements with [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]] and [[Together for Catalonia (2020)|Junts]], in addition to the [[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]] and the [[Basque Nationalist Party|PNV]].}}

| goals = * Resignation of Pedro Sánchez.

* Government of Sánchez invested.

* Amnesty law introduced.

* New elections not called.

The '''2023–2024 Spanish protests against Catalan amnesty''' <!--don't introduce ''Noviembre Nacional'' until we reach a consensus. Go to the talk page--> were a series of protests which began in October 2023, resulting from the announced negotiations of then-acting prime minister [[Pedro Sánchez]]'s [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE) with former [[president of the Government of Catalonia]] [[Carles Puigdemont]]'s [[Together for Catalonia (2020)|Together for Catalonia]] (Junts) party. These negotiations were aimed at forming a governing coalition after the [[2023 Spanish general election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=redaccio |date=2023-11-06 |title=El PSOE y Junts retoman las negociaciones para investir a Sánchez |url=https://www.eltriangle.eu/es/2023/11/06/el-psoe-y-junts-retoman-las-negociaciones-para-investir-a-sanchez-con-la-presencia-de-borras/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=El Triangle |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Díaz |first=María del Pilar |date=2023-11-03 |title=Manifestaciones contra la amnistía en Madrid, Barcelona o Valencia: horario, cuándo y dónde serán |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2023-11-03/actos-contra-amnistia-madrid-barcelona-valencia_3767332/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}}</ref>

The starting position of Junts and [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) in negotiations were the [[amnesty]] of all participants in the [[2017 Catalan independence referendum]], and the possibility of holding [[Catalan independence referendum|a new referendum]]. [[Societat Civil Catalana|Catalan Civil Society]] (SCC), a group opposed to Catalan independence, called a demonstration for 8 October, in response to a potential amnesty.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-08 |title=Manifestación en Barcelona 8 de octubre {{!}} Miles de personas protestan contra la amnistía en la capital catalana |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2023-10-08/pactos-para-la-investidura-de-sanchez-y-manifestacion-contra-la-amnistia-en-directo.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref> On 28 October Sánchez discussed the amnesty proposal at a PSOE Federal Committee, as part of government formation negotiations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcos |first=José |date=2023-10-28 |title=Sánchez defiende la amnistía en el comité federal del PSOE por "el interés de España y en defensa de la convivencia entre españoles" |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2023-10-28/sanchez-defiende-la-amnistia-en-el-comite-federal-del-psoe-por-el-interes-de-espana-y-en-defensa-de-la-convivencia-entre-espanoles.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> Following the investment of Sanchez's government in the middle of November, the protests against Catalan amnesty began declining by late February, with new protests being called at the end of May days before the law was passed, having failed to achieve their objectives.

The [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP) called their first protest against a possible amnesty for the [[Catalonia|Catalan]] pro-independence supporters by Sánchez before [[Alberto Núñez Feijóo]] presented himself for investiture.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Junquera |first=Natalia |date=2023-09-24 |title=Feijóo alerta contra la amnistía y pasa por alto su investidura ante 40.000 personas |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2023-09-24/feijoo-reune-a-40000-personas-en-madrid-contra-la-cacicada-y-la-indignidad-de-la-amnistia.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref> The protest took place in the Plaza de Felipe II in Madrid on the morning of September 24.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiménez |first=Por Beatriz |date=2023-09-24 |title=Más de 40.000 personas arropan a Feijóo contra la posible amnistía de Sánchez: "Voy a defender España aunque me cueste la presidencia del Gobierno" |url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/2023/09/24/el-pp-moviliza-a-mas-de-40000-personas-en-madrid-contra-la-negociacion-de-la-posible-amnistia-de-sanchez/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=infobae[[Infobae]] |language=es-ES}}</ref> Feijóo was supported by former presidents [[José María Aznar]] and [[Mariano Rajoy]], as well as by other PP barons such as Almeida and Ayuso.<ref name=":9"/><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-24 |title=La Delegación del Gobierno en Madrid cifra en 40.000 los asistentes a la manifestación del PP contra la amnistía |url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2023/09/24/la-delegacion-del-gobierno-en-madrid-cifra-en-40000-los-asistentes-a-la-manifestacion-del-pp-contra-la-amnistia/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=infobae[[Infobae]] |language=es-ES}}</ref> A delegation of the government of the Community of Madrid estimated that more than 40,000 people attended the event, while the PP put the number at 60,000. There was no official confirmation of the number who attended.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last1=Beleña |first1=Sergio |last2=Ramos |first2=Ana Belén |date=2023-09-24 |title=Feijóo desborda su acto en Madrid y acusa a Sánchez de promover la "impunidad" del procés |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2023-09-24/barones-pp-feijoo-mitin-amnistia-ayuso-aznar_3741090/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=elconfidencial.com |language=es}}</ref><ref name=":6" />

On 3–5 November, demonstrations were held at the PSOE headquarters in Calle de Ferraz. The PP distanced itself from these protests but the protests were supported by the Vox party. A thousand people were reported to be at the demonstration.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-03 |title=Pactos y negociaciones para la investidura de Sánchez, 3 de noviembre {{!}} Termina la manifestación ultra que ha reunido a cientos de personas frente a Ferraz |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2023-11-03/pactos-y-negociaciones-para-la-investidura-de-sanchez-en-directo.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-03 |title=Manifestación en Ferraz contra los pactos de Pedro Sánchez con el independentismo y la ley de amnistía |url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2023/11/03/65453c7ffc6c83e5308b459a.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Navarro |first=Ana Pérez |date=2023-11-07 |title=Tres noches de protestas ilegales en Ferraz que molestan al PSOE e incomodan al PP |url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/2023/11/07/tres-noches-de-protestas-ilegales-en-ferraz-que-molestan-al-psoe-e-incomodan-al-pp/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=infobae[[Infobae]] |language=es-ES}}</ref> Although the demonstration had not been communicated to the Government Delegation, the National Police was aware of it.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Noticias de España {{!}} EL MUNDO |url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}}</ref>

[[File:Manifestante con un morrión español durante el Noviembre Nacional, Madrid, 2023.jpg|thumb|Demonstrator with a [[Morion (helmet)|Spanish morion]], a [[Cross of Burgundy]] with the [[double-headed eagle]] and a sign calling for the "direct election of the Head of Government.".]]

Protests continued outside of the PSOE headquarters, with protesters throwing objects at the police. The police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas. When the police began to disperse crowds and arrest protestors, improvised sit-ins began on Marques de Urquijo Street. In total, 9 arrests were made and 3 people were injured.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Infobae |first=Por Newsroom |date=2023-11-11 |title=La novena noche de protestas contra el PSOE deja nueve detenidos en Ferraz y una acampada frente al Congreso |url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/2023/11/11/la-novena-noche-de-protestas-contra-el-psoe-deja-nueve-detenidos-en-ferraz-y-una-acampada-frente-al-congreso/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=infobae[[Infobae]] |language=es-ES}}</ref>

Protests were called for by the PP and Vox and a reported 52 cities held protests, additionally 1,000 people attended a protest outside of the PSOE headquarters was 1,000 people attended.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-12 |title=Décima noche de protestas en Ferraz contra la amnistía |url=https://www.abc.es/espana/decima-noche-protestas-ferraz-amnistia-20231112204807-vi.html |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Diario ABC |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SER |first=Cadena |date=2023-11-12 |title=Manifestación contra la amnistía en Madrid este domingo: cortes de tráfico y cierre de líneas de metro |url=https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2023/11/12/manifestacion-contra-la-amnistia-en-madrid-este-domingo-cortes-de-trafico-y-cierre-de-lineas-de-metro-cadena-ser/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=cadena SER |language=es-ES}}</ref> In total, 13 arrests and there were reports of 6 people being injured.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Infobae |first=Por Newsroom |date=2023-11-12 |title=La novena noche de protestas en Ferraz se salda con 13 detenidos y seis heridos de carácter leve |url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2023/11/12/la-novena-noche-de-protestas-en-ferraz-se-salda-con-13-detenidos-y-seis-heridos-de-caracter-leve/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=infobae[[Infobae]] |language=es-ES}}</ref> The following table shows the number of participants in the protests by city:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-12 |title=Cientos de miles de personas se manifiestan en toda España contra la amnistía: "No callaremos hasta que volvamos a votar. ¿Por qué le tienen miedo a las urnas?" |url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2023/11/12/6550b933e4d4d8741a8b458f.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}}</ref>

300 protesters celebrated the new year at [[:es:Calle_de_Ferraz|Ferraz]], during the act, the protesters hung up and hit a doll of [[Pedro Sánchez]] characterized with [[Nazi symbolism|Nazi symbols]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Telemadrid |date=2024-01-01 |title=Unas 300 personas toman las uvas en Ferraz en protesta por la amnistía |url=https://www.telemadrid.es/noticias/nacional/Unas-300-personas-toman-las-uvas-en-Ferraz-en-protesta-por-la-amnistia-0-2629537026--20240101020447.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Telemadrid |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-01 |title=Ahorcan y apalean un muñeco de Pedro Sánchez en las campanadas de la ultraderecha frente a la sede del PSOE |url=https://www.publico.es/politica/ahorcan-apalean-muneco-pedro-sanchez-campanadas-ultraderecha-frente-sede-psoe.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.publico.es}}</ref> The protest was recorded by the far-right ''[[YouTuber]]'' Isaac Parejo and the journalist María Durán. The videos were transmitted inby a [[Youtube channel]] in a live.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=Quién es InfoVlogger, el 'presentador' de las campanadas en Ferraz: gay, youtuber y autor del 'Vamos a volver al 36' |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.es/politica/quien-infovlogger-presentador-campanadas-ferraz-gay-youtuber-autor-vamos-volver-36.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=ElHuffPost |language=es}}</ref> Every important political party of Spain, including [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]] and [[Vox (political party)|Vox]], rejected the act<ref>{{Cite web |last=García |first=Manuel Manahén |date=2024-01-02 |title=El PP pregunta al PSOE tras la protesta en Ferraz: ¿Qué opinan sobre los insultos a Almeida? |url=https://www.eldebate.com/espana/madrid/20240102/pp-pregunta-psoe-protesta-ferraz-opinan-sobre-insultos-almeida_164246.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=El Debate |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Liñán |first=José M. Abad |date=2024-01-01 |title=El Gobierno y el PSOE condenan el apaleamiento en Ferraz de un muñeco con la figura de Pedro Sánchez |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2024-01-01/el-gobierno-y-el-psoe-condenan-el-apaleamiento-en-ferraz-de-un-muneco-con-la-figura-de-pedro-sanchez.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=El País |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Europa |date=2024-01-03 |title=Yolanda Díaz no ve delito de odio en el apaleamiento del muñeco de Sánchez pero cree que fue "absolutamente intolerable" |url=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-yolanda-diaz-no-ve-delito-odio-apaleamiento-muneco-sanchez-cree-fue-absolutamente-intolerable-20240103095321.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.europapress.es}}</ref> and the [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]] denounced the participants of the protests for hate crimes, and solicited a investigation for find the organizations that financed the act, but before the investigation started, the [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]] detected a [[Vox (political party)|Vox]] network of influence on the protesters.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-06 |title=El PSOE señala a una red de satélites de Vox como responsables penales de la piñata de Ferraz |url=https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20240106/psoe-senala-red-satelites-vox-responsables-penales-pinata-ferraz/822667943_0.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=El Español |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=20minutos |date=2024-01-06 |title=La denuncia del PSOE vincula a Vox con las protestas en Ferraz y pide investigar irregularidades en su financiación |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5206488/0/psoe-vincula-vox-con-las-protestas-ferraz-pide-investigar-irregularidades-su-financiacion/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.20minutos.es – Últimas Noticias |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Monrosi |first=José Enrique |date=2024-01-02 |title=El PSOE denunciará la Nochevieja ultra de Ferraz como delito de odio y pide al PP “dejar de alimentar” a sus responsables |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/psoe-denunciara-protesta-ferraz-delito-odio-pide-pp-alimentar-responsables_1_10807045.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=elDiario.es |language=es}}</ref> During the investigation, the police questioned Antonio Martínez Vázquez as organizer of the protest,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=La Policía tomará declaración este miércoles al convocante de la protesta en la que se apaleó el muñeco de Sánchez |url=https://www.publico.es/sociedad/policia-tomara-declaracion-miercoles-convocante-protesta-apaleo-muneco-sanchez.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.publico.es}}</ref> but he only declared that he just helped an organization linked to [[Vox (political party)|Vox]], and he did not know about the beating of the doll.<ref>{{Cite web |last=SER |first=Cadena |date=2024-01-03 |title=El convocante de la protesta de Nochevieja en Ferraz: "Revuelta me pidió el favor y lo hice" |url=https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2024/01/03/el-convocante-de-la-protesta-de-nochevieja-en-ferraz-asegura-que-revuelta-me-pidio-el-favor-y-lo-hice-cadena-ser/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=cadena SER |language=es-ES}}</ref> After the investigation, the police removed Antonio Martínez from the "blacklist" and they pointed to Pablo González Gasca, one of the leaders of the protests and [[Vox (political party)|Vox]] member.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frías |first=Carlos |date=2024-01-03 |title=Revuelta cambió de organizador oficial para las 'Uvas de Ferraz' para proteger a un miembro de Vox |url=https://www.elindependiente.com/espana/2024/01/04/revuelta-cambio-de-organizador-oficial-para-las-uvas-de-ferraz-para-proteger-a-un-miembro-de-vox/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=El Independiente |language=es}}</ref> On 1 January one hundred people tried to calm down the protests with [[mariachi]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Europa |date=2024-01-01 |title=Un centenar de personas vuelven a Ferraz para rezar el rosario y protestar contra Pedro Sánchez |url=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-centenar-personas-vuelven-ferraz-rezar-rosario-protestar-contra-pedro-sanchez-20240101212533.html |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.europapress.es}}</ref>

On 4 January, one hundred protesters headed to the ''[[Palacio de Cibeles]]'', many of them, [[Vox (political party)|Vox]] supporters. These protesters showed support to [[Javier Ortega Smith|Ortega Smith]], a Vox member who was expelled from the [[City Council of Madrid]]. The protesters were marching meanwhile shouting "PSOE, PP, la misma mierda es" ("PSOE, PP, are the same shit").<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Moreno |first=Por Marta |date=2024-01-04 |title=Los ‘ultra’ abandonan Ferraz para irse a Cibeles a insultar a Almeida: “PSOE, PP, la misma mierda es” |url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/2024/01/04/los-ultra-abandonan-ferraz-para-irse-a-cibeles-a-insultar-a-almeida-psoe-pp-la-misma-mierda-es/ |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=infobae[[Infobae]] |language=es-ES}}</ref> The next day, the protesters grabbed another doll of [[Pedro Sánchez]] to hit it as they did on Ferraz on 1 January.<ref name=":12" />