40,000 march in Madrid against amnesty for Catalan separatists

Tens of thousands of people have protested in Spain against a possible amnesty for Catalan separatists. The demonstrators gathered in Madrid on Sunday following a call by opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo's conservative People's Party (PP).

The Spanish Socialist Workers' party (PSOE), led by acting prime minister Pedro Sánchez, is considering granting amnesty to the separatists in exchange for support in forming a government.

Authorities estimated the crowd in Madrid's Plaza de Felipe II at 40,000. Among them, besides Feijóo, were former prime ministers Mariano Rajoy and José María Aznar. They say that the planned amnesty is unconstitutional and violates the rule of law.

Feijóo still hopes to become Spain's next prime minister following his electoral victory in July. Parliament will vote on his nomination this week, but he is not expected to pass the vote. Even with the support of the right-wing populist party Vox, his party does not have a majority.

The Catalan separatists will come into play if Feijóo's attempt fails, as Sánchez's PSOE could then try to form a government. His left-wing bloc does not have a majority either but could gain one with the support of the Catalan separatist parties. 

^{© THOMAS COEX / AFP}