Spanish Activists Launch Street Referendum Over Future of Monarchy

[cinrit]

Emboldened by the tens of thousands of Spaniards who have taken to the streets to demand a say in the future of Spain's monarchy, activist groups have announced they will be holding their own referendum in the five days leading up to the coronation of Prince Felipe.

The idea came about on the night King Juan Carlos announced his abdication, after an estimated 20,000 people dressed in the red, yellow and purple of the former Spanish republic descended upon the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid calling for an end to the monarchy.

"It seems absurd to us that in a democracy nobody is asking the citizens if they want a monarchy or a republic," said Kike Castelló of Democracia Real Ya! (Real Democracy Now!), one of the dozen or so collectives involved in organising the referendum.

More: Spanish activists launch street referendum over future of monarchy | World news | The Guardian

Cindy

[Orchid]

As leftist deputies waved signs calling for a referendum, Mariano Rajoy, the prime minister, defended the monarchy during the debate, saying: "Spain is a parliamentary monarchy with deep roots because Spaniards want it to be so."

I suppose the result of this "symbolic" referendum will justify or denounce this claim.

In any case, it's interesting to see the public reaction which is unravelling during the political space between abdication and coronation.