Tens of thousands protest against Spanish Prime Minister's plan to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists

Demonstrators march with a giant Spanish flag during a protest against the government's proposed amnesty law for Catalan separatists. Photo: JORGE GUERRERO/AFP

Tens of thousands of people protested across Spain on Sunday against caretaker Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's plans to grant an amnesty to Catalan separatists in exchange for support for another term.

In The government struck a deal Thursday with the Catalan separatist Junta party that includes a controversial amnesty law for those convicted of trying to secede Catalonia from Spain in 2017.

The deal sent shockwaves around the world. in the country, and Mr Sanchez's conservative opponents accuse him of jeopardizing the rule of law for his own political gain.

«We will not be silent until there are new elections,» the People's Party said (NP). — said movement leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo to a cheering crowd gathered in Puerta del Sol in Madrid.

Authorities said 80,000 people turned out in Madrid, while the Popular Party, which called for protests in cities across Spain, put the total at around one million. Many held Spanish and EU flags, as well as banners with slogans including “respect the Constitution.”

People protest outside the PSOE headquarters in Spain on Sunday after Spanish socialists reached an agreement with the Catalan separatist Junto party to support the government. Photo: SUSANA VERA/REUTERS

“He [Sánchez] betrayed coexistence, democracy … he cannot continue to rule,” said Thomas Perez, a 38-year-old banker who held a sign that read “Sánchez is a traitor.”

“Many of my friends vote for the socialists I feel absolutely disappointed because… Sánchez never said that amnesty would be part of his program,” said Inmaculada Herrans Castro, 64.

In Barcelona, ​​local police said that 6,000 people demonstrated, and in Granada their number reached 30,000 and 50,000 in Seville, according to authorities. Other protests took place in cities such as Malaga, Palma and Valencia.

After the inconclusive elections on July 23, the Socialists spent several weeks in negotiations with smaller parties, including the far-left Platform Sumar and the Catalan, Galician and Basque nationalist parties.

Last week's confirmation of the support of the Younts, as well as the Basque Nationalist Party, would give Sánchez an absolute majority in the 350-member lower house in a vote due to take place in the coming days.< /p>