Spain protests: Anger crowds demand PM Sánchez resigns 'IT'S DICTATORSHIP!'
PROTESTS in Spain have erupted for a tenth day, as people took to the streets demanding Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez resign for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Spain: Residents in Madrid protest against lockdown rules
Demonstrators convened in Madrid and other Spanish cities today to protest the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis. The protestors are demanding the resignation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, as they claim the country has turned into a dictatorship. The police response to the protests has been steadily growing in an attempt to gain control of the situation.
The protestors object to the government's growing powers to tackle the coronavirus, which they claim has resulted in a "government by decree".
At 9pm each night demonstrators have taken to banning pots and pans to signal their disapproval of the lockdown and the Socialist-led government that imposed it.
The police have steadily increased their presence to prevent confrontations and stop the protestors from blocking streets - as they did in the first few days of the demonstrations.
Political rows have also erupted between the government and the far-right party Vox.
The leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, has backed the protestors and has urged the government to listen to their demands.
He described the government's handling of the situation as a "dictatorship camouflaged by the state of alarm".
Protestors have started to target the homes of government ministers, such as Pablo Iglesias, the government's second Vice President, and the country's transport minister José Luis Ábalos.
The targeting of homes is a Spanish public-shaming event known as escrache and has led to increased security being put in place outside the minister's homes.
The unrest has intensified in Madrid as citizens urge the government to move onto the next phase of the coronavirus de-escalation plan.
Much of the country is now in Phase One, which allows some degree of social interaction and the reopening of some businesses, but Madrid still remains in Phase Zero - and has had few restrictions eased.
Protestors typically gather outside the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) headquarters on Ferraz street in Madrid to demand Mr Sánchez' resignation.