Some 2,000 people protest in Madrid for the increase in defense spending | Spain

Some 2,000 protesters have marched through the Paseo del Prado and have protested against the increase in military expenditure. Summoned by 70 groups, among which are unions, associations and parties such as Podemos, IU and Sumar MovementThey have demanded that the government’s plan to reach 2% of GDP in defense spending be paralyzed, as well as the EU and NATO rearme plans. To the concentrations, representatives of the aforementioned political groups have been added, such as Irene Montero, Ione Belarra, Estrella Galán, Carlos Martín and Enrique Santiago. Montero, referring to 15-M, has called citizens to « insumission », as « 15 years ago they were insumisas against austerity. »

The protest has begun in the immediate vicinity of the Atocha Station, at the beginning of the Paseo del Prado, and have ended at the Puerta del Sol. On that journey, the concentration has passed in front of the Congress of Deputies, at which time the slogans that dozens of protesters chanted in unison have focused on the government and the chief of the Executive: “Pedro Sánchez, go to the war” Zionist ”, have shouted dozens of people, who carried all kinds of flags and posters.

In the middle of Puerta del Sol, the association representatives have called to maintain the « antimilitarist, anti -war and anti -fascist » of Madrid so that the capital « is an example » to stop « fascism. » They have also demanded that the budget items that « finance the rearma » and have denounced the « maneuvers to increase military spending » This expense, they said, constitutes « an imposition of the ruling elites » and has made an example the 72 -hour survival kit that the European Commission recommended to citizens, « an example of how to generate stress and social fear. » In addition, they have requested the repeal of the Gag Law « and other repressive laws that serve for coercion for popular mobilizations. »

The PCE leader and Secretary of State for the 2030 AgendaEnrique Santiago has declared shortly before the beginning of the demonstration that IU will be « very vigilant » to the next government movements. He has also said that his party has presented a document that proposes « to address security that cannot rest in the military career », but must focus on « education, health, environmental protection », among others. And it is that the tensions between the minority partner of the coalition government and the socialists for the Rearme has not stopped ruling in recent weeks.

The financing of public resources, as opposed to rearme, has constituted one of the demands of protesters: « Military expenses for schools and hospitals », has been one of the achievements that attendees have tone several times during the march.

The red line of 5%

Last Thursday, the United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, at the meeting prior to the NATO Summit held in Brussels declared that all countries of the Atlantic Alliance « have to contribute to 5% (their GDP) as a recognition of the nature of the threat. » Although adding has accepted the increase in military spending up to 2% of GDP, for some of the formations that 5% constitutes the great red line. The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, at the same meeting in the Belgian capital, avoided « talking about percentages », but « is able to meet the objectives that have been imposed. » In this way, Robles considered that the 2% who intends to reach Spain « is enough » to fulfill its commitments to NATO.

Santiago has valued this Saturday that, if Spain accepted that condition, it would be « practically impossible » that IU continue in the government. For his part, Carlos Martín, head of the Sumar Movement with Lara Hernández, has ruled out that the Government will « advance in that direction. » The Eurodiputada of Podemos and former Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, has been more skeptical: « In 15 days they will tell them that they have to reach 5% in military spending and they will fulfill it without grinding, » he said, in reference to the NATO summit that will be held in The Hague at the end of the month. In recent months, Podemos has mobilized « the forces of peace », the way in which the group refers to antibelicist associations and groups that position themselves against the increase in defense expenditure.

Gaza, in the center of the protest

Among the numerous republican, community, union and partisan flags, the most repeated teaching has been Palestine. The conflict in the Gaza Strip, in which more than 50,000 Palestinians have died from the attacks of Israel, according to data from the Ministry of Health of the Enclave, has mobilized the Spanish population since the invasion began in October 2023. The shouts and banners “Against Genocide”, as well as those called to cut relations with Israel, have copied a good part of the demands of the protest.

Political representatives have also focused on this conflict. The Eurodiputation of adding Galán Estrella has stated that in the EU « an unbearable, painful and cruel genocide is allowed in Gaza. » Galán has celebrated that Spain has become a « European reference » in the defense of the Palestinian people. « You have to break diplomatic relations with a genocidal state, » he finished. For its part, Montero has denounced that the government « continues to allow the transit of weapons. » Accompanied by the choirs « NATO No, Bases outside », the former minister has denounced the « hypocrisy » of the government, because she says she is in favor of the Palestinian people, but has a « criminal complicity » with the state of Israel.