In scenes reminiscent of those witnessed five years ago, thousands marched through the streets of Madrid on Sunday (May 15) to mark the anniversary
ADVERTISEMENTIn scenes reminiscent of those witnessed five years ago, thousands marched through the streets of Madrid on Sunday (May 15) to mark the anniversary of the Indignados – or ‘Outraged’ – movement.
En Madrid los "indignados" se manifestaron en su quinto aniversario. https://t.co/oVVrNlTHRCpic.twitter.com/qnAQHjxS37
— Noticias RCN (@NoticiasRCN) May 16, 2016
In 2011, people frustrated at austerity measures, a 20 percent unemployment rate and other economic and social problems took to the streets nationwide. In the Spanish capital’s Puerta del Sol square the spontaneous protest turned into a 28-day occupation.
It gave rise to a new political era in Spain.
“I remember that the youths finally moved through the streets. Something that I miss now,” said one man at this weekend’s march. “A youth awareness of what is on the line, a country for them, nobody can do it for them.”
MOVIMIENTO 15 -M 2011: ¡¡INDIGNADOS DEMOCRACIA YA¡¡ Espontaneo Acampado durante un mes en La Puerta del Sol Madrid pic.twitter.com/qIlMKFgZhn
— Edith (@edisabela1) May 15, 2016
Another woman added:
“The discontent that we felt five years ago has resulted in new political parties that now have a real chance to form a government. They are creating a new kind of politics, aimed at change.”
The left-wing Podemos was born of the Indignados – or 15-M (May 15) – movement. It came out of December’s (2015) elections as Spain’s third largest party. Conservative and socialist dominance now a thing of the past, four parties are vying for power in a ballot scheduled for June.