Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Madrid on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and early elections amid a wave of corruption allegations against his government. The demonstration, organized by the conservative Popular Party (PP), filled the capital’s Plaza de España, with many waving Spanish flags and chanting, “Pedro Sánchez, resign!”
Official estimates of attendance varied widely. While the central government’s delegation in Madrid reported between 45,000 and 50,000 participants, PP-affiliated officials, including Madrid’s right-wing mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, claimed the crowd exceeded 100,000.
The rally, titled “Mafia or Democracy,” was called in response to leaked audio recordings allegedly implicating former Socialist Party (PSOE) member Leire Diez in a smear campaign against a police unit. The unit had investigated corruption claims involving Sánchez’s wife, brother, and former transport minister José Luis Ábalos. Diez has denied wrongdoing, stating she was conducting research for a book, and has since left the PSOE.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused Sánchez’s government of engaging in “mafia practices” and declared that the Socialists had “stained everything—politics, state institutions, the separation of powers.” He urged Sánchez to call snap elections, though Spain’s next general vote is not due until 2027.
The protest marks the sixth major anti-government demonstration since Feijóo became PP leader in April 2022. Former conservative Prime Ministers Mariano Rajoy and José María Aznar were among the attendees.
Sánchez’s administration has faced multiple corruption investigations, including the high-profile “Koldo Case,” which centers on alleged kickbacks in pandemic-era mask contracts linked to Ábalos and his former aide, Koldo García. In April, Sánchez briefly considered resigning after a court opened a probe into his wife, Begoña Gómez, over influence-peddling allegations—a case he dismissed as a right-wing “smear campaign.”
Despite the protests, recent polls show the PP holds only a narrow lead over the PSOE, with Sánchez maintaining the highest approval rating among party leaders. The PP itself has faced corruption scandals in the past, including illegal financing and bribery cases during its previous tenure in government.
A government spokeswoman downplayed Sunday’s turnout, noting on social media that a Spanish rock duo had recently drawn a larger crowd in Madrid than what she called the “apocalyptic Feijóo.” Meanwhile, Sánchez has remained defiant, framing the investigations as politically motivated attacks.
The opposition has yet to file a no-confidence motion, as Feijóo would need support from regional parties wary of aligning with the far-right Vox. Spain’s political divide shows no signs of narrowing as both sides dig in ahead of a potential early electoral battle.