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Manu Fernandez / AP
Demonstrators protest against austerity measures announced by the Spanish government in Barcelona, Spain on July 19, 2012.
MADRID -- Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards marched on Thursday evening against the center-right government's latest austerity measures, passed after more than a week of demonstrations across the country.
Parliament on Thursday approved a package of 65 billion euros ($80 billion) of spending cuts and tax hikes as part of measures to avert a full European bail-out, bringing more hardship in a severe economic downturn in a nation where one in four are jobless.
Demonstrators took to the streets in towns and cities across Spain, thronging the thoroughfares of Madrid and Barcelona, waving flags and bearing banners decorated with scissors to symbolize spending cuts.
In Madrid, crowds of firefighters wearing helmets and t-shirts with the slogan "Firemen in danger of extinction" blew horns and let off firecrackers. Earlier, police officers and members of the Civil Guard joined the protests.
"We have lived through bad times, but this takes the biscuit," said 58-year-old fireman Francisco Vaquero.
Earlier Thursday, angry civil servants had blocked traffic in several main Madrid avenues, The Guardian newspaper of London reported. Protesters punctured tires on dozens of riot police vans.
The sight of demonstrators on Spain's streets is nothing new. Young "Indignados" (Indignants) protested in their thousands against unemployment last year. One in four Spaniards is without work.
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But since Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced spending cuts and tax rises last week there have been daily demonstrations drawing protests from public service workers like police that have previously stayed away.
Civil servants, whose pay was cut by up to 7 percent when their Christmas bonus was canceled, have used their coffee breaks this week to protest outside the ruling People's Party headquarters in Madrid.
This article includes reporting by Reuters and The Associated Press.
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The poor are being pushed too far by the rich. Something has to give. Remember the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire."
The "poor" have lived too long on handouts paid for by the rich, and need to survive on their own with a lot less and what they can afford. The party is over, and the welfare is ending. Sink or swim.
You can't live beyond your means forever and get away with it. Neither can a business or a country. Sooner or later there is an upset and the lack of discipline in the past is exposed.
For the life of me, I can't figure out why governments don't know it's a lot easier to be honest and tell the people we can't afford something in the first place than it is to give them something and then try and take it away later.
Paul, one of the conditions of Spain's bailout was that the banks get rid of their toxic assets ASAP. They are selling foreclosed real estate at considerable losses. Do you know who is buying this real estate? Rich people...other Europeans, Russians and the likes of Donald Trump. They are referred to as vultures.
If there were no rich people to buy these toxic assets, what do you think would happen to Spain's banks? Are you going to bail them out?
They are protesting and they will get what in return? They can burn the cities down in protest, it will do no good. Several factors are at work here. Countries borrowing to cover for unsustainable expenses for starters. Then, socialism rears it's little head, again (don't go pointing out Germany & other Scandinavian countries, they're not doing too well either) and not enough jobs to support a burgeoning population. Italians aren't making as many babies, but the immigrants sure are.
What is truly amazing is that no one seems to 'get it.' You have this rock and you can squeeze it forever and it will not produce blood. Squeeze turnips and you will get some juice...for a little while, then all you have left is turnip pulp.
Spare me. Socialism is what got Europe into this mess to begin with. Germany had to almost start from scratch after WW 2 and look where hard work got them. Now we are all supposed to bail out the countries on the Mediterranean whose lack of work ethic and easy living has gotten them in debt. HA!
I'd like more detail on who or what Spain is indebted to.
I would like proof of Spain's socialist government being the root cause of collapse.
Only ignorants blame Europe's mess on socialism. The financial collapse had nothing to do with socialism.
the problem with socialism is that you run out of people to take from... that has happened in greece and spain.. please educate yourself
Give it a break! Germany was bailed out after WWII by the United States and Europe! On there own they started a war twice in the last century. Germany did not rebuild itself after the war without the money from the United States and neither did Japan.
Give it a break! Germany was bailed out after WWII by the United States and Europe! On there own they started a war twice in the last century. Germany did not rebuild itself after the war without the money from the United States and neither did Japan.
Momma Rose: Good point, but the U.S. government actually had money in those days. Germany has money, but it is a finite resource, and at some point the PIGS need to get off the dole and stand on their own, like Germany and Japan did.
Sorry, I meant PIIGS.
The corrupt Spanish government and their European Banking Masters are no different than here in the USA. They want ALL of the peoples wealth, even down to the pennies in our kid's Piggy Banks.
The Spaniards call it 'austerity', and the 'Washington Establishment' calls it
'shared responsibility'. What a pitiful joke on us!
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
The only bailouts I see have been the tax payers bailing out the banks all over the world.
The huge economic trouble should really not be any of the poor and middle class' concern, except they are left to hold the bag.
To fix the problem they should take the money from the ones hoarding it. That could get ugly.
This is what happens when people are fed and made dependent on years of socialism.
A lesson in irony.
The Food Stamp Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is actually proud of the fact it is distributing the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever.
Meanwhile, the National Park Service, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, asks us to "Please Do Not Feed the Animals." Their stated reason for the policy is that the animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves.
This is where the USA is headed, if not already there. 1 in 4 americans are receiving food stamps. 50% pay no income tax and live off of welfare... the government is 76 trillion in debt (16 trillion plus 60 trillion in unfunded social security and medicare promises) and those who spend less than they make and work hard are the bad guys. The rich are the only thing keeping the US from sinking. Stopping welfare and stopping the poor from breeding should be the main focus in all countries.
MSM LIES! There are over a million People in 80 city's across Spain right now Clashing with police and government officials Spain is on the brink of a revolutionary War. And it seems most media either wont cover it or just plain Lies about it..
They don't lie, they minimize: several hundred of thousands of protesters could be a million, easy.
Those news are so negative they don't want them to spread. I don't blame them really. Runaway crowds as uncontrollable, like giant flash mobs. Mayhem could ensue and loss of lives and destruction of economic assets are not the panacea to problems. The world needs a calm venue to complain orderly and that is what voting is for, as long as we are offered decent reform candidates.
Apparently a fireman in Spain gets paid E1,500 per month. Less than $2,000, and boy do they have fires. I know the cost of living is 20% lower in Spain according to a comparison calculator, but still.
It appears this may be the beginning of the end for Spain's center-right government.When you have parts of the police and the civil guard (groups that in most countries are more right-wing,and in Spain certainly) joining in the protests,the end is in sight.What we're seeing across Europe is the years of bank corruption being exposed.Any in depth article done on Greece,and the other countries ,show how the wealthy,using the banks have looted those countries.Little Iceland of all countries has shown what needs to be done.They kicked out and arrested the government leaders that were in league with the corrupt bankers in their nation.Have also issued arrest warrants for the bank officials,nationalized the banks involved,and repudiated the debts.Saying,these did not benefit the nation,but were the fruits of a criminal enterprise.Instead of throwing money at the banks here during our bank crisis.We should have arrested the bankers that plundered our citizens savings,and the politicians that helped them.But we didn't and it looks like they are still up to their same stealing ways.With the world heading to or already in a recession.There may be a reckoning yet in store for that group of crooks,that have sucked the poor and middle class dry for years.
When are the people of Europe going to start dragging bankers into the street and burning them alive?
I'm not exaggerating here: It's long overdue.