Anti-austerity protests in 54 cities and towns in Spain
Thursday, April 3, 2014 @ 1:52 PM
A TOTAL of 54 Spanish towns and cities will be the scene of massive demonstrations today (Thursday) calling for an end to funding cuts and an about-turn in Mariano Rajoy's policies.
Organised by three major unions – the CCOO, UGT and USO – and the pressure group known as the Social Summit, those leading this latest civil uprising say the European elections on May 25 should be 'a chance for reflection' which the EU 'needs urgently' in order to recover from the financial crisis.
All regions in Spain will take part in today's protests except for Catalunya, which will hold its own on Sunday, April 6.
In Madrid, the march will start in the Plaza de Cibeles, in front of the Bank of Spain, and end in the Puerta del Sol square, Madrid's direct centre and tourist hotspot.
UGT and CCOO leaders Cándido Méndez and Ignacio Toxo will not be present as originally planned, since they are said to be 'saving themselves' for a larger, similar demonstration in Brussels tomorrow (Friday).
This said, they have urged as many people as possible to take part in their nearest demonstration today, or Sunday if they live in Catalunya.
The union leaders are calling for the EU to invest two per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually for the next 10 years to kick-start those economies which have been hit the worst by austerity measures and funding cuts, a move they claim would help to create up to 11 million jobs.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com