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Thousands of Spaniards take to the streets to protest: “enough is enough”

Monday, September 17th 2012 - 02:30 UTC
Full article 3 comments
Demonstrators from all over Spain filled the centric Plaza Colon and surrounding streets Demonstrators from all over Spain filled the centric Plaza Colon and surrounding streets

Tens of thousands of Spaniards rallied in Madrid to protest against spending cuts and tax rises in a country reeling from high unemployment and a gruelling recession. Teachers, nurses and social services workers thronged the capital's central Plaza Colon a day after Spain said it would present new economic reforms at the end of September likely to contain more austerity measures.

The cuts are seen as a precursor to an economic program which Spain will have to implement in return for receiving support from euro zone rescue funds and the European Central Bank to help lower its borrowing costs.

The demonstrators, from all over Spain, chanted, sang and listened to speeches from union leaders. Some blew whistles and waved banners reading 'Enough!' and 'They're sinking the country' to protest against the spending cuts in health, education and social services.

Others said they feared for the future of their children in a country where one in four is out of work and mired in a second recession in three years.

Spain announced a package of spending cuts and tax hikes worth 56 billion Euros in July but many economists still expect the Euro zone's fourth largest economy to miss its 2012 deficit target.

It has accepted a European credit line of up to 100 billion Euros to prop up its ailing banks as it seeks to avoid a full-blown bail-out which the Euro zone would struggle to afford.

However, most analysts and policymakers believe it is only a matter of time before Spain will require more international help to lower its punishing borrowing costs.

Everyday living costs like heating, phone bills, clothes and haircuts all became more expensive at the start of the month after a hike in value-added tax.

“The government is aware that is it asking for sacrifices from Spaniards, but these sacrifices are absolutely unavoidable,” Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said at a European finance minister meeting in Cyprus on Saturday.
 

Categories: Politics, International.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • vestias

    Os estados membros do eurogrupo que estão debaixo das medidas de austeridade tem o custo de vida alto e a espanha não foge á rega eles tem o desemprego mais alto da europa e quanto mais medidadas de austeridade tiverem os estados mais o custo de vida aumenta enquanto a UE não encontrar um equilibrio entre a austeridade fiscal e o estimulo economico os estados membros do eurogrupo não sairão desta crise

    Sep 17th, 2012 - 10:40 am 0
  • Clyde15

    Vestias. I am sure that your post is pertinent to the topic but as it is in Portuguese, I have not a clue as to what you are saying, so cannot make any meaningful reply.
    The rules are that postings should be made in English.

    Sep 17th, 2012 - 12:31 pm 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    Austerity isn't working. Btw will all those who supported the rich people's protests against Cristina on a general pro-protest basis be as liberal about these poor people's protests???

    Sep 18th, 2012 - 03:08 pm 0
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