Spain erupts with mass austerity protests

Tens of thousands of public workers, trade unionists and others march in 80 cites to condemn latest cuts and tax hikes.

Spain protests
Protests against the new austerity cuts have been taking place on a daily basis in Spain [AFP]

Tens of thousands of public employees, trade union members and other Spaniards are marching in 80 Spanish cities to protest the latest batch of austerity measures approved by the government.

The ruling conservative Popular Party used its majority in parliament to push through the measures on Thursday. They include a rise in sales taxes and a wage cut for civil servants.

As dusk fell, marchers in Madrid carried Spanish flags bearing black bows for mourning and banners saying, “No to the cuts” and “You have ruined us”.

Late Thursday, the government also published details of the $122.9bn financial assistance agreement between Spain and the Eurogroup aimed at shoring up the country’s struggling banks.

“There is no money in the coffers to pay for public services. We are making reforms that will allow us to better finance ourselves.

– Cristobal Mindoro, Spain’s budget minister

Huge protests against crisis pay cuts and tax hikes have filled the streets of Spanish cities as workers yelled in anger branding the crisis measures “robbery”.

“Hands up, this is a robbery!” protesters bellowed in Madrid, where a sea of demonstrators crammed the avenues of the city centre on Thursday.

Unions had earlier called for the more than 80 demonstrations across the country in the latest and biggest in an almost daily series of protests this month.

A sustained string of protests erupted after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last week announced the new measures, aiming to save $80bn in order to slash the public deficit.

“There’s nothing we can do but take to the street. We have lost between 10 and 15 per cent of our pay in the past four years,” said Sara Alvera, 51, a worker in the justice sector, demonstrating in Madrid.Among the steps is a cut to the Christmas bonus paid to civil servants, equivalent to a seven-per cent reduction in annual pay. This came on top of a pay cut in 2010, which was followed by a salary freeze.

“These measures won’t help end the crisis.”

Smaller protests, organised largely via online social networks, have occurred daily since the latest austerity measures were announced on July 11, with some workers taking to the streets during their morning coffee break.

Hundreds of protesters, including firefighters wearing their helmets and police in black T-shirts, have marched through the streets of Madrid, blocking traffic and chanting.

‘No money’ 

Cristobal Mindoro, Spain’s budget minister, defended the measures on Thursday, saying they were needed to lower Spain’s borrowing costs.Under pressure from the European Union to stabilize Spain’s public finances, the conservative government also cut unemployment benefits and raised the sales tax, with the upper limit rising from 18 to 21 per cent.

“There is no money in the coffers to pay for public services. We are making reforms that will allow us to better finance ourselves,” he said.

Spain had to offer investors sharply higher interest rates on Thursday to raise $3.Ban in debt auctions with maturities of two, five and seven years.

The higher rates suggest investors remain worried over the country’s ability to repay its debts as it struggles with its second recession in four years and an unemployment rate of over 24 per cent.

Critics say the government’s new austerity measures will worsen economic conditions for ordinary people.

“The new cuts harm the weakest sectors of society without one single measure that involves any effort by companies and the highest earners,” the COCO said in a statement.

‘Final blow’

Unions have called for the protests to be peaceful but clashes broke out on the fringes of some demonstrations in Madrid last week, including one major march by striking coal miners.678

“They have already lowered and frozen our salary and this is the final blow,” said Ines Corned, 44, a worker in the justice sector, protesting in Madrid on Tuesday.

“These measures they are taking will not stimulate consumption and will not create jobs,” said Corned.

Spain is due this month to become the fourth eurozone country, after Greece, Ireland and Portugal, to get bailout funds in the current crisis when it receives the first loan for its banks.

Eurozone leaders are expected to finalise the deal in a telephone conference on Friday.

Source: News Agencies