Post date: Oct 27, 2012 6:47:33 PM
Thousands of protesters from Spain's indignados movement march along Madrid's iconic Gran Via in a demonstration against Spain's 2013 budget plan. The group plans to renew an attempt to surround the parliament building.
MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 27, 2012) (REUTERS) - Thousands of Spaniards took to the streets of Madrid on Saturday (October 27) to demonstrate against proposed austerity cuts in the country's 2013 budget plan.
The demonstrators, many of them members of Spain's Indignados protest movement, began their march at Plaza Espana in the heart of Madrid, planning to surround theSpanish parliament building.A similar attempt in September left dozens of injured.
"I have come here for the same reasons that I have taken part in all demonstrations staged by the Indignados. I am against this government, against the budget plan - which works against the civil society of this country and in favour of the banks - and to ask for the resignation of a government that is not in favour of people. They are in favour of the financial institutions," Maria Cristina Escribano, a 60-year old telecomunications engineer taking part in the demonstration, told Reuters.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy unveiled 13 billion euros in additional savings in a tough budget last month.
Spains' lower parliamentary house rejected amendments to a draft budget this week as they debated the austerity package that includes deep spending cuts and tax hikes.
Lawmakers must finalise the 2013 budget before the end of the year.
"We are here to protests against the unfair budget plan that this government want to impose. A budget plan that is a genocide because it affects the weakest population like elderly people and children," said Francisco, who also took part in the demonstration.
On Friday, (October 26) jobless data showed that one in four Spanish workers were without a job in the third quarter of this year, a record high, and further layoffs are likely to follow next year as more of the country's 60 billion euro programme of budget austerity kicks in.
The official numbers follow labour unions call for a general strike for November 14, part of growing protests over cutbacks that many believe have done little to combat the crisis and only served to put more people out of work.
Spain's financing needs are largely covered for this year, and its cost of borrowing from bond markets has eased significantly since August thanks to the European Central Bank's promise to buy the country's bonds should it call for help.
Yet austerity measures, worth over 60 billion euros by 2014, are likely to crimp growth further, and cast more workers out of a job.