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Hundreds of thousands of people protest amnesty deal between Spain’s PM and Catalan separatists

The conservative Popular Party called the rally on Sunday to demonstrate against the agreement that paves the way for Pedro Sánchez to return to power

Nov 12, 2023 - 13:16CET

Hundreds of thousands of people attended rallies called by the conservative Popular Party (PP) to protest the amnesty deal struck by the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the Catalan pro-independence parties that paves the way for Pedro Sánchez to return to power. The deal is with Together for Catalunya, also known as Junts — a group bent on achieving independence for the northeastern region of Catalonia that’s headed by Carles Puigdemont, who fled Spain after leading a failed illegal secession bid in 2017 that brought the country to the brink.ÓSCAR CORRAL

Key to the agreement signed Thursday is a massively controversial amnesty that could benefit Puigdemont and thousands of other secessionists. But the proposal, backed by several smaller left-wing parties, has roused the ire of the conservative and far-right opposition parties that represent roughly half the country’s population. Many in the judiciary and police are also opposed.Alejandro Ruesga

The biggest protest took place at the Puerta del Sol square (above) in Madrid, where the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, accused Sánchez of buying the presidency "in exchange for the judicial impunity of his partners."OSCAR DEL POZO (AFP)

Feijóo announced that the protests will continue: "We will not shut up until there are elections." In Madrid, tens of thousands of people crowded the square waving Spanish flags, EU flags and banners with messages such as "Spanish democracy is at risk." From left, José María Aznar, former prime minister of Spain; Madrid premier Isabel Díaz Ayuso; Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the PP; and Alfonso Serrano, PP senator, this Sunday at the Pueta del Sol in Madrid. MARISCAL AGENCIA EFE (EFE)

The government delegation estimates that 80,000 people gathered in Madrid, while the PP said there were 500,000. Protests also took place in Barcelona (above) and Seville. Kike Rincón

A woman holds a sign with the slogan "Stop Sanchez" during the rally in Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona. According to the local police, 6,000 people took to the streets in the Catalan capital.Kike Rincón

Atmosphere during the rally in Sant Jaume square in Barcelona against the amnesty deal.Kike Rincón

A protester holds a sign against caretaker prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, during the rally at Puerta del Sol in Madrid.Claudio Álvarez

Spanish flags and posters against Pedro Sanchez, during the rally in Sant Jaume square in Barcelona. Kike Rincón

View of Puerta del Sol, in Madrid, with thousands of people rallying against the amnesty deal on Sunday.Claudio Álvarez