Huge turnout for anti-austerity march in Spain
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By Staff Writers, teleSUR
teleSUR
Saturday, Jan 31, 2015
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Demonstrators holding a sign reading "it's now" at the Podemos march January 31, 2014. | Photo: Reuters |
Spain's new party believes that politicians should “serve the people, not private interests,” and has gained huge support.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Madrid Saturday in a massive march to support Spain's new anti-austerity party Podemos. The party has gained support recently after the left-wing, anti-austerity Syriza party in Greece won last week's elections, bringing hope for other European countries suffering from major debt that change could be in the air.
In what was called the “March for Change,” people chanted “yes we can” and “tic toc tic toc,” suggesting the clock was ticking and time was running out for the political elite.
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Tens of thousands gather at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square following the march January 31, 2014. (Reuters) |
The march ended in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol where protesters filled the square, in one of the party's first outdoor mass demonstrations and its biggest show of support.
Podemos, Spanish for “We can,” promises that it will seek to write off part of Spain's debt, which has caused unemployment to soar in the country, if it wins regional and national elections coming up this year. The party has been running on a slogan that politicians should “serve the people, not private interests.”
Podemos was formed just a year ago (celebrating its one year anniversary this month), but raised quickly to popularity, winning five seats in the European Parliament in the May 2014 elections. It has also surged to the top of opinion polls in Spain recently.
"People are fed up with the political class," said Antonia Fernandez, a 69-year-old pensioner from Madrid who attended the demonstration.
When Podemos announced the march in early December, party leader Pablo Iglesias said, “This is not about asking for anything from the government or protesting. It’s to say that in 2015 there will be a government of the people.
“We want a historic mobilisation. We want people to be able to tell their children and grandchildren: ‘I was at the march on 31 January that launched a new era of political change in Spain.’”
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Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias waves to the crowd at a massive anti-austerity rally January 31, 2014. (Reuters) |
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