Thousands of Young Spanish Demand a Change in Policy

Thousands of Spanish fed up with high levels of unemployment and the political situation in their country have taken to the streets of many cities in recent days, stealing the limelight from the traditional campaign events to the local and regional elections that will be held next Sunday.

The movement, coordinated through social networks and Twitter, which has become a symbol of a camp in the central Puerta del Sol, is a novelty in Spain, where there had been little protest, despite having the highest unemployment level top of the European Union (EU), a stagnant economy and spending cuts approved by the Government.

Most of the protesters are young people, that the International Monetary Fund has called the potential “lost generation” of Spain given the youth unemployment figures of around 45%.

“We demand a policy that cares for life and not by the political and economic interests,” said a spokesman for one of the protest movements, tomalaplaza.net,  who declined to give his name.

The protesters, known as the movement of 15-M by demonstrations on Sunday, have covered the square with banners demanding “Real Democracy NOW” and “Do not vote.”

The participants urged not to vote for any of the major parties, neither the PSOE in power nor for the center-right Popular Party, in the elections for 8116 municipalities and 13 autonomies. Politicians from both parties have been implicated in corruption scandals.

Source: Reuters