Letter from Spain: Republican Demonstrations and the Frente Cívico

Republican Demonstration in Madrid, April 2013

On Sunday, Spaniards in their thousands took to the streets to commemorate the declaration of the second Republic in April 1931: “From Cibeles to Sol [in Madrid], republican demonstrators flooded completely the Calle Alcalá, with flags, tricolours and songs against the monarchy and for socialism”. The demonstrations called for the establishment of a Third Republic.  15M London Assembly will be holding a ‘Picnic por La Republica’ on Sunday 21 April in London Fields, from 2.00.pm  See: http://www.15mlondon.org/category/news.

Meanwhile, regular demonstrations against unemployment, evictions and cuts continue. A project to set up a left unity type project to fight the elections has groups in most Spanish regions. Maria, a supporter of Izquierda Unida in Malaga, writes:

“Nosotros estamos bien, metidos en las rutinas del trabajo y las manifestaciones contra los desahucios de las viviendas y todo tipo de recortes, especialmente en la sanidad y en educación.

 “Se está formando un Frente Cívico que intenta agrupar a la mayor parte de la izquierda para presentarse a las próximas elecciones. Ya ha habido reuniones en casi todas las provincias, pero no se si saldrá adelante. La indignación de la mayoría de la gente (también de algunos votantes del Partido Popular) es muy grande y las manifestaciones en la calle son constantes y muy numerosas, pero son movimientos con escasa organización y es difícil su continuidad. Ya

Celebrating the Spanish Republic in 1931

veremos qué sigue pasando. Nosotros estamos casi todos los fines de semana de manifestación por un tema u otro. El domingo pasado (14 de Abril) fue por la III República. En Madrid hubo una gran manifestación. La verdad es que la monarquía española no puede estar más en crisis.”

“We are well, immersed in the routine of work and the demonstrations against evictions and all sorts of cuts, especially in health and education.

A ‘Civic Front’ is being formed, with the intention of grouping most of the left so as to contest the next elections. There have already been meetings in almost all the Spanish regions, but I don’t know if it will get anywhere. The anger of the majority of the population (including some supporters of the Popular Party [the centre-right party in power]) is widespread and the demonstrations are regular and very numerous but they are movements with little organisation, and it will be difficult to maintain them. We’ll see what happens. Nearly every weekend we are on some demonstration or other. Last Sunday (14 April) it was for the Third Republic. In Madrid there was a big demonstration. The truth is that the Spanish monarchy could not be more in crisis.”

For the 10 demands of the Frente Cívico, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9ns_94y8R2s#t=160s. They include a minimum wage of €1000 per month, pensions of no less than this, controlled rents, nationalisation of strategic services, control of the financial sector, separation of church & state and electoral and constitutional reform.

Posted by Barbara Segal