​Spaniards hold mass rally for leftist Podemos ahead of elections
Published time: January 31, 2015 15:53
Edited time: February 01, 2015 15:34 Get short URL
 
People fill Madrid's landmark Puerta del Sol as they gather at a rally called by Spain's anti-austerity party Podemos (We Can) January 31, 2015. (Reuters/Sergio Perez)
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Tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets of central Madrid in support of Podemos, a leftist political party campaigning on an anti-austerity platform. The party’s popularity has soared in the wake of the Syriza victory in Greece.

Podemos, which means “We can,” is currently leading in opinion polls, ahead of both of Spain’s mainstream parties as the regional, municipal and national elections approach.



The party was formed only a year ago, but shocked the political establishment when members won five seats in the European Parliament.

Many in the crowd waved Greek and Republican flags and banners which read “the change is now, as demonstrators chanted “yes we can” and “tic tac, tic tac,” Reuters reports.

Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias told the cheering crowd that democracy will prevail.

“We’re sending a message to Europe to Spain. Today is a day for change. It’s a battle between democracy and austerity, and democracy will win. We’re not here to protest. We’re here for change,” he said.

“People are fed up with the political class," Antonia Fernandez, a 69-year-old pensioner who came to the rally with her family told Reuters.

Other protesters echoed discontent with the two mainstream parties.

“This our future. This is what we want. I can’t stand the ruling People’s Party or the Socialists. I want them to go,” a protestor told RT.

Pablo Iglesias (C), leader of Spain's party "Podemos" (We Can), raises his fist as he stands with his party members on the stage during a rally called by Podemos, at Madrid's Puerta del Sol landmark January 31, 2015. (Reuters/Sergio Perez)

On Friday, Podemos said that 260 buses were to bring thousands of supporters from across Spain to the capital for the rally. Hundreds of locals had signed on to host the arrivals.

When Iglesias, announced the march last month, he 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 mobilization. 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.’”

Pablo Iglesias (L), leader of Spain's party "Podemos" (We Can) waves as he attends a rally called by Podemos in Madrid January 31, 2015. (Reuters/Sergio Perez)

Spain has officially come out of its six-year recession, though unemployment remains at a staggering 23.7 percent. However, the Spanish economy appears to be on an upward trajectory, expanding at its fastest pace since 2007 in the fourth quarter.

Gross domestic product jumped 0.7 percent from the last quarter, and 2 percent from the previous year.

“If 2014 was the year of recovery, 2015 will be the year that the Spanish economy takes off,” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said last month.

Podemos however is banking on the support of a population ravaged from years of austerity and hope to ride the coattails of left-wing Syriza’s recent sweeping victory in Greece. And many in Spain have not seen the signs of these improvements.

A man holds up a banner as people gather during a rally called by Spain's anti-austerity party Podemos, at Madrid's Puerta del Sol landmark January 31, 2015. (Reuters/Sergio Perez)

Disillusion with the predominantly two-party system and tangible economic woes have created a political and social landscape for anti-establishment Podemos to thrive.

In the first six months of 2014 courts approved more than 21,000 home evictions, as the summer of low-paid and short-term contracts has soared. Meanwhile, several high profile corruption scandals have tainted the reputations of many of those in power.

In October, dozens of public officials and bureaucrats were arrested throughout Spain in a massive graft investigation. Some of those implicated were high-ranking members of Rajoy’s ruling People’s Party.