Thousands protest in Spain over possible amnesty for Catalan separatists
GuardianSep 22, 2023
The Facts
An estimated 40K Spaniards, particularly from the opposition conservative People's Party (PP), flooded the streets of Madrid Sunday to protest acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's plans to offer amnesty to Catalan separatists in order to keep himself in office after he failed to win July's election.
The People's Party, led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, came in first in July's inconclusive general election, though the party fell well short of the majority needed to form a new government. Meanwhile, the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, led by Sánchez, will also lack the necessary votes unless it gains the support of the Catalans.
The Spin
Right narrative
Acting Prime Minister Sánchez would rather collaborate with seditious traitors than work to build a government with the opposition party. Sánchez claims pardoning separatists would be forgiving "mistakes made in the past," but Puigdemont attempted to secede from the country just six years ago. Spaniards are tired of separatists and their socialist leanings, which is why citizens are rightfully speaking out against this proposed amnesty.
Left narrative
While some argue that separatists are traitors and should not receive amnesty, the fact is that they're still Spaniards and far less dangerous than the Vox party which refuses to condemn former dictator Francisco Franco. The People's Party Feijóo knows he can't win by popular support alone, so he's trying to push feelings of fear and anger against the Catalonians rather than work to include them in the body politic.