Thousands march in Madrid demanding Spanish PM quit over graft allegations

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez maintains the cases against his family and entourage are politically motivated.Thousands of people have marched through the Spanish capital, demanding Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s resignation after a series of corruption scandals within his entourage.Demonstrators, many waving red and yellow Spanish flags and holding signs saying “Enough!”, marched through the streets of Madrid on Saturday behind a large banner that read: “Corruption has a price. No more impunity. Resignation and elections now.”Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Spanish Foreign Minister on Spain’s clash with the Trump administrationlist 2 of 3‘Campeones’: Wild celebrations as Barcelona clinch La Liga in El Clasicolist 3 of 3Lamine Yamal waves Palestine flag as Barcelona celebrate La Liga winend of listThe protest was called by a group of more than 150 civic associations called Sociedad Civil Espanola and backed by the mainstream conservative Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox.Organisers put attendance at 120,000. The central government’s delegate to the region estimated 40,000 people had participated in the march, which ended in Plaza Moncloa near Sanchez’s official residence.After the march ended, a small group of demonstrators tried to head towards the residence but were pushed back by riot police in an otherwise largely peaceful rally, images on Spanish TV showed.Three people were arrested and seven police officers suffered minor injuries, according to the central government’s delegate.“There is no one left in Pedro Sanchez’s circle who has not been accused of very serious crimes. Spain is being held hostage by a corrupt mafia,” far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal told reporters before the start of the march.Sanchez, who came to power in 2018 after using a vote of no confidence to topple the corruption-mired conservative PP government, has pledged to carry on, despite the proliferation of corruption allegations concerning his entourage.