Tens of thousands of Spaniards took to the streets in Madrid yesterday, waving Spanish flags and chanting “Sánchez, resign!” in a mass protest.
The demonstration was organised by the conservative People’s Party (PP) against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s socialist government.
The rally, held under the slogan “Mafia or democracy?”, accused Sánchez of presiding over institutional corruption and demanded his immediate resignation alongside fresh general elections.
The event at the Temple of Debod, an ancient Nubian temple re-erected in Spain, drew crowds estimated at between 40,000 by authorities and 80,000 by organisers.
Protesters also carried placards reading “Resign now!” and “Sánchez, go away!” while denouncing what they called “moral and institutional” decay under Sánchez’s leadership.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo addressed the gathering and declared: “Sanchismo is political, economic, institutional, social and moral corruption.”
He urged Sánchez to step down, framing the demonstration as a defence of democratic integrity.
The protest was sparked by a Supreme Court ruling on November 27 ordering the pre-trial detention of Sánchez’s former transport minister José Luis Ábalos and his ex-adviser Koldo García.
The pair are implicated in the “Koldo Case” – a sprawling corruption probe that started with the alleged fraudulent awarding of public contracts for medical supplies, including masks, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Investigations have uncovered a network allegedly involving overpriced deals and kickbacks, with potential damages running into millions of euros across multiple administrations, including the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands.
This scandal became part of a broader wave of allegations engulfing Sánchez’s inner circle.
His wife, Begoña Gómez, faces probes for alleged influence peddling, business corruption and misappropriation linked to her academic roles and recommendations to firms securing public contracts.
Leaked audio recordings have also surfaced, allegedly showing a Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) member orchestrating a smear campaign against police investigating these claims.
The demonstration was called by the youth organisation Revuelta, a youth movement linked to the right-wing Vox party.
Sánchez assumed power in 2018 via a no-confidence vote against the previous PP government amid its own graft scandals. He has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated attacks by the right-wing opposition.
Government officials, including the Madrid delegation, condemned the rally as an attempt to destabilise Spain’s institutions.
A spokesperson for Sánchez’s administration reiterated that the investigations are independent and that the Prime Minister has no direct involvement, vowing to continue focusing on economic recovery and social policies.
The PP, which governs several regions including Valencia – itself under fire for its handling of deadly floods last year – has leveraged the unrest to press for snap polls before the scheduled 2027 vote.
Social media amplified the event, with footage of flag-waving crowds and heated chants going viral on platforms including X.
Hashtags such as #SanchezDimision and #MafiaODemocracia trended nationwide, blending outrage over the scandals with broader political frustrations.
One demonstrator, 46-year-old shop manager Blanca Requejo, told AFP: “The expiry date on this government passed a long time ago. It’s getting tiring.”
Más de 80.000 personas hemos llenado hoy el Templo de Debod para gritar alto y claro al sanchismo:
¡Basta ya de corrupción!
¡Elecciones ya!#MafiaODemocracia 🇪🇸#Fuenlabrada pic.twitter.com/opnIRx7dCp— PP de Fuenlabrada🇪🇸 (@popularesfuenla) November 30, 2025
Debod se llena de miles de personas clamando contra el sanchismo.
Y todavía se atreverán a decir que hay 4 fachas.
El pueblo se levanta contra el gobierno corrupto de Sánchez. #MafiaoDemocracia pic.twitter.com/E7pW5Q8Lwc
— Alvaro Aranda 🐍 (@AlvaroAranda_) November 30, 2025
