By Carlos Ruano
MADRID, April 29 (Reuters) – Thousands of people protested
across Spain on Sunday against government cuts aimed at tackling
a debt crisis that has pushed the country back into recession
and sent unemployment close to 25 percent.
Protesters closed central parts of the capital Madrid on a
wet Sunday to protest against cuts to education and health
services the government says must be made to help slash the
public deficit.
The protests, which were peaceful, were mirrored in over 50
cities across the country as Spaniards grow weary of austerity
measures and years of hardship triggered by a real estate crash
in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008.
The central government aims to make savings in its budget
this year of around 27 billion euros ($36 billion), with a
further 10 billion euros to be made in healthcare and education
spending, which is controlled by the country’s 17 autonomous
regions.
“It’s getting worse for us all. People are starting to
protest more because it’s affecting every sector. It’s affecting
everyone,” said Charo, a middle-aged woman with her children in
Madrid.
Labour unions called for large-scale protests to continue in
coming months to persuade leaders they should not rely solely on
cuts to deal with the deficit and should aim to stimulate
growth.
Speaking at an event in Madrid Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy
said the cuts were essential.
“We are working to turn around the situation, and we will do
it, but it will be hard for people. In order to do it we are
implementing a series of reforms that are more positive,
necessary and required than ever,” he said at a People’s Party
meeting in the capital.
Some protesters were disappointed by the numbers turning out
in support, which they said was down to the rain, and fatigue at
the length of a crisis.
“People are not protesting in huge numbers; I don’t know
what it’s going to take for the people to really stand up. The
disenchantment is so brutal that people will not stand up and
protest,” said Julian, a pensioner.
Many people waved labour union flags and held banners
against the cuts to the country’s prized healthcare system that
will add to medicine costs, and to its education budget, which
will increase the hours worked by teachers and the number of
pupils per classroom.
More protests are expected this week in the country’s second
largest city Barcelona before the European Central bank holds
its rate-setting meeting there on Thursday.
Spain has stepped up security to try and clamp down on any
potential trouble after violent clashes were seen in the Catalan
city in the general strike at the end of March.
($1 = 0.7542 euros)
(Reporting by Carlos Ruano; writing by Nigel Davies; Editing by
Will Waterman)
