(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Spanish protesters on Sunday took to the streets in the capital, Madrid, chanting slogans such as “Tomorrow, Spain Will Be Republican,” and waving thousands of red, gold and purple Republican flags.
The demonstration was organized to commemorate the country’s Second Republic, which was established on April 14, 1931, and was followed by 40 years of dictatorship under General Francisco Franco after a 1936-39 civil war.
“Considering the current situation in Spain, what we need is a republic, and to put an end to the plundering by the Bourbons,” said a young protester, Anabel Galiano, referring to Spain’s royal house.
Veronica Ruiz, another protester, also said, “Nobody elected the king,” adding, “We want a referendum. It would be the fair and democratic way to find out what the people want.”
The image of Spain’s royal family has been tainted with a number of scandals, leading to a noticeable drop in public confidence in the monarchy.
In April 2012, the Spaniards were shocked after realizing that 75-year-old King Juan Carlos had gone elephant hunting in Botswana and broken his leg during the expensive trip while the recession-hit country was grappling with an unemployment rate of 26 percent.
Earlier this month, a Spanish court called in the king’s daughter, Princess Cristina, for an April 27 testimony hearing over a corruption case involving her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, who is suspected of embezzling millions of euros of public funds paid in contracts to a company he managed several years ago.
According to a survey published by the Spanish newspaper El Pais on April 3, 53 percent of the Spaniards disapprove of the way Carlos is carrying out his functions.
Spain’s economy collapsed into recession in the second half of 2008, which has taken with it millions of jobs.
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