Protests erupt in Madrid against central, regional governments

A large-scale protest unfolded in Madrid's iconic Puerta del Sol Square on Spain’s Constitution Day, drawing hundreds of participants who voiced frustration over the response of the central government and regional authorities to recent crises.

Organized by approximately 20 local associations, the demonstration targeted what participants described as failures in governance and crisis management, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The protest stemmed largely from dissatisfaction with how authorities handled the aftermath of catastrophic floods that struck Spain in late October. Valencia, one of the hardest-hit regions, witnessed significant loss of life and property damage. Criticism has been levelled at both the central government and Valencia’s autonomous administration over alleged delays in disaster response and inadequate warnings to affected populations.

Representatives of the organizing associations labelled the demonstration as a call to action against systemic issues in Spain’s governance. "The protest is directed both against the central government and the autonomous government of Valencia," stated one organizer. "But above all, [it is aimed] against partitocracy and the irrational distribution of powers within the state of autonomies, which is the source of the greatest catastrophe experienced by Spain in the 21st century, with human casualties and economic consequences yet to be determined."

The organizers stressed the need for systemic reforms, saying: "We need a strong, sovereign, effective, and functional state. We must protect our rural areas, our food sovereignty, and our water. To achieve this, all Spaniards must unite."

The backdrop to these protests was the devastating floods that struck Valencia at the end of October. On October 29, the Spanish State Meteorological Agency issued warnings of heavy rains across several regions. Despite the alerts, the response was criticized as insufficient, with claims that affected communities received late warnings and delayed assistance. The floods, described as one of the worst disasters in recent Spanish history, claimed the lives of approximately 220 people.

By Vugar Khalilov