Spain
has been rocked by massive protests as workers and students rise up
against widespread unemployment, a non-responsive and corrupt
government, and harsh “austerity” measures.
Spain
has been hit hard by the economic crisis, with 21 percent official
unemployment and more than 40 percent for youths. The protests
reflect widespread discontent with the two major political parties.
The Socialist Party, led by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, is
socialist in name only, having passed harsh measures freezing
salaries of public workers, and raising the retirement age. It lost
in regional and local elections to the Popular Party, which is
politically further to the right.
Demonstrations
began on May 15 in Puerta del Sol, a central plaza in Madrid, one
week before the elections were held across the country. The protests
soon spread to Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Bilbao and other cities
across the country. The government attempted to clamp down by banning
protests, but relented when crowds swelled as demonstrators defied
orders to disband.
