madrid – The Milli Chronicle

Madrid Protest Swells as Corruption Allegations Intensify Pressure on Sanchez

NewsDesk MC — Sat, 23 May 2026 15:37:31 +0000

Madrid-Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through central Madrid on Saturday demanding the resignation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, as corruption investigations involving members of his inner circle and family continued to fuel political tensions in Spain.

Protesters carrying Spanish flags and banners reading “Enough!” gathered in the capital following a call by Sociedad Civil Española, a coalition of more than 150 civic associations. The demonstration was backed by the conservative Alberto Núñez Feijóo-led Popular Party and the far-right Santiago Abascal party.

Organizers estimated attendance at around 80,000 people, while the central government’s representative in the Madrid region put the turnout at roughly half that figure. The march concluded near Plaza Moncloa, close to the prime minister’s official residence.

Speaking before the rally, Vox leader Abascal accused the government of being engulfed in corruption scandals, arguing that allegations involving individuals close to Sanchez had eroded public confidence in the administration.

The demonstration comes amid mounting scrutiny of figures linked to the prime minister. Sanchez’s brother, David Sanchez, is due to stand trial on influence-peddling charges, while his wife, Begona Gomez, remains under investigation in a separate corruption inquiry. Sanchez has repeatedly rejected the allegations and described the cases as politically motivated.

Pressure on the government has also increased following legal proceedings involving former transport minister Jose Luis Abalos, a longtime Sanchez ally whose corruption trial concluded earlier this month and is awaiting a verdict.

Adding to the political challenges facing the government, a Spanish court this week placed former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero under formal investigation for alleged influence peddling and other offenses. Zapatero has been regarded as a close ally of Sanchez within Spain’s Socialist movement.

Sanchez, who came to power in 2018 after a no-confidence vote removed a conservative government plagued by corruption scandals, has insisted he will remain in office despite growing opposition demands for early elections.

The rally underscored the increasingly polarized political climate in Spain, where corruption allegations have become a central battleground ahead of future electoral contests.

Spain Rebukes Israel Over Gaza Flotilla Detentions

NewsDesk MC — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:00:58 +0000

Madrid – Spain on Thursday summoned Israel’s top envoy in Madrid to protest the continued detention of a Spanish activist intercepted aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, deepening diplomatic tensions between the two countries over Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said the Israeli charge d’affaires was called in to receive Madrid’s protest over what he described as the “unacceptable and intolerable” extension of the detention of Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish citizen of Palestinian origin detained after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Greece last week.

An Israeli court has extended the detention of Abu Keshek and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila until Sunday, despite calls from international rights groups and foreign governments for their release. Israeli authorities have not filed formal charges against either activist.

The flotilla was the second maritime initiative in the past year aimed at challenging Israel’s blockade on Gaza, where shortages of food, medicine, water and fuel have intensified during the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli forces intercepted the vessel and deported several activists to Europe while detaining Abu Keshek and Avila. Rights organizations have alleged the detainees were subjected to abuse while in custody, accusations Israeli authorities have denied.

The latest dispute underscores the widening rupture in relations between Spain and Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has repeatedly criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and previously described it as a “genocide,” a characterization Israel strongly rejects.

Diplomatic ties deteriorated further after Spain formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, prompting Israel to recall its ambassador from Madrid. Spain later dismissed its own ambassador to Tel Aviv in March.

The diplomatic clash coincided with Madrid’s decision to honor Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, with the Order of Civil Merit.

Sanchez’s office said Albanese was recognized for her work documenting alleged violations of international law in Gaza. Albanese has repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide during the conflict, allegations Israel denies, accusing critics of antisemitism.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Albanese, accusing her of “biased and malicious” criticism of both Washington and Israel. Spain has urged the European Commission to prevent the U.S. sanctions from being enforced within the European Union.

France and Germany have also criticized Albanese and called for her resignation over remarks referring to a “common enemy of humanity,” although Albanese has denied that the statement was directed at Israel.

Two people killed, 10 hurt in Madrid restaurant blaze

NewsDesk MC — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 08:41:27 +0000

Madrid (Reuters) – Two men died and 10 others were injured after a fire at a restaurant in the Spanish capital Madrid, emergency services said on Saturday.

The blaze started late on Friday night at Burro Canaglia Bar&Resto, an Italian restaurant in the central neighbourhood of Salamanca.

An eyewitness told El Pais newspaper that the fire started after a waiter was flambeing a dish and the flames set fire to the ceiling and walls.

Diners struggled to flee as the blaze started near the main exit, emergency services said.

Spanish police are investigating the cause of the fire.

Spain enters six-month state of emergency to tackle pandemic

Millichronicle — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:59:26 +0000

Madrid (Reuters) – Spain will be under a state of emergency until early May, giving regions legal backing to decide curfews and restrict travel to try and contain rampant COVID-19 contagion.

Spain is one of Europe’s worst COVID-19 hot spots, with over 3 million infections.

Its response to the pandemic has often been hampered by political wrangling, but the government this time managed to gather enough votes for parliament to back extending an initial two-week decree until May 9.

Some worried about the consequences, though, in a country that is already suffering through its worst recession since the late 1930s civil war.

“It seems too much to me, people can’t stand it,” said Madrid resident Angela Suarez, a chef who has already had her working hours reduced because of the crisis.

“We don’t know what to do. And we pay rent, bills, we’re thinking, what, what, what to do?”

The government said the state of emergency, and the restrictions on mobility it comes with across Spain, were unavoidable.

“We are aware that citizens are tired after months of effort and sacrifices, of not being able to do what they used to do before, to hug people, our family and friends,” Health Minister Salvador Illa told parliament.

“But it is not the time to relax measures, we have, very tough weeks and months ahead of us.”

That will however not be the end of uncertainty for many Spaniards, as the government is leaving it to each region to decide its own measures, creating a patchwork of restrictions across the country.

While Madrid just wants to ban travel in and out of its territory for bank holiday weekends, Catalonia on Thursday joined a growing number of regions banning entering and exiting their territory for at least 15 days.

Catalan officials said the new measures, which also include closing cinemas and theatres and extending a shutdown of bars and restaurants, were necessary to make sure hospitals can cope.

“Our health system cannot deal with this level of stress. It can’t take much more,” Catalan health chief Alba Verges said.

During weekends, Catalonia residents will also be banned from leaving their municipality.

With Christmas on the horizon, some in Madrid worried they will not be able to be with their loved ones.

“Well, for me (the holidays) are going to be very sad, I have children living in the United States and they cannot come,” said Pilar, a pensioner.