A massive march passed through the center of Madrid this Saturday morning, between Cibeles and the Victory Arch, to support Ceuta and demand the calling of elections. With the support of more than 200 civil society entities -associations, foundations, forums, parties and unions-, the march has been led by Spanish Civil Society and has had the participation of Santiago Abascal, on behalf of Vox, and Miguel Tellado, on behalf of the PP.
The demonstration passed without incident until the end, when a small group tried to overcome the police line that had been placed at the Victory Arch to prevent people from walking along the A-6 Highway in the direction of the Moncloa Palace, where Pedro Sánchez is located. At that moment, there was some moment of tension, but it didn't get any worse. Yes, there has been a woman detained.
The march has been massive despite the fact that the Government Delegation has estimated participation at 20,000 people. The organization, Spanish Civil Society, estimates attendance at 180,000 people. The Madrid City Council, unlike the concentration on September 2 in support of Ceuta, has finally not given figures.
The protest has been led by two banners: one supported Ceuta and asked to judge Sánchez for treason through the activation of article 102 of the Constitution for his management in the autonomous city; and, in the other, the corruption surrounding the Government was denounced and elections were demanded. In the call manifesto, in addition, “clean elections” were requested, in reference to the Law of Grandchildren and the possible expansion of the electoral roll with nationalized citizens; and, the militarization of the Ceuta border.
Tellado, accompanied by deputy Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo and Alicia García, has placed himself among the protesters and has defended the urgency of “ejecting the Government” and “the invaders” from Ceuta. Abascal, who has placed himself in one of the headlines, has taken the opportunity to insist on the activation of article 102 of the Constitution to investigate Sánchez for “treason.”
During the route of the demonstration, which started at 10 a.m. and passed through Gran Vía and Princesa Street until reaching the Victory Arch, shouts of “Spain, Christian, and not Muslim” could be heard; "Government, traitor, everyone to prison; "Pucherazo, no"; "Sánchez, go away"; or "Sánchez to prison", the protest has passed without incident, although with a significant police deployment. At the front, there were seven vans from the UIP of the National Police and, in the back, there were also police intervention units.
Among the well-known faces driving the mobilization is Marcos de Quinto, businessman and former Ciudadanos deputy. Also Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former leader of the PP and founder of Vox.
This is the second mobilization that has been organized in Madrid in favor of Ceuta in this month of September and in which both PP and Vox participate. The first was organized on September 2 and, according to Government figures, it brought together 50,000 people in Cibeles - the City Council raised that figure to 150,000 - and both Abascal and Alberto Núñez Feijóo were present. On this occasion, Feijóo has not attended since he usually only attends those rallies led by the PP itself: the general secretary of the popular party has attended in his place.
