A sign outside of the protesters' camp that reads "Information: We know how to return to El Sol," Photo by Dahlia Ferrer
A wooden, shipwreck-looking structure intrudes in the middle of Madrid’s ample, historic and refined Plaza del Sol. One doesn’t know whether to first look at the white boards propped up in the middle of the square, completely covered with protesters’ artistic contribution in bright colours or to aim for the shack. Upon a closer look, shirtless young men, obviously living there for some time, are the remnants of the 15 May protests; a skeleton crew from a plaza previously body-to-body packed full of youth protesting against corrupt officials, lack of progress throughout these years of financial crisis and greedy banks.
With a global build-up of people who are tired of being lead by the greedy and ruthless, even in a socialist-leaning, 20th in standard-of-living country, like Spain, is having difficulties with greed. During good financial times many Spaniards took out mortgages to finance their dream of buying a home, whose market, at that point had overinflated. Now, with the economy in crisis as it is and 20% of Spain’s population out of work, many of whom were recently let go, no one can afford to continue paying their mortgage. In Spain once a bank takes over a home because the owner defaulted on their mortgage, it isn’t enough for them: the bank wants you to continue paying part of what you owe them. Citizens feel suffocated in quicksand. Not only that, but Spaniards complain of corrupt government officials.
On 15 May, an estimated 30,000 Spaniards congregated in Plaza del Sol, similar to the peaceful protests in Tahrir. The movement that called for the protests is called Democracia Real Ya (Real Democracy Now), who claims to have in 12 hours after starting a Facebook page gained 2,000 members and within 24 hours to have organised and carried out two protests.
In an interview with one of the souls that remained in Plaza del Sol last week, the somewhat leader says of his “rank” in the group as “sólo uno más,” meaning that he’s just another voice and claims no real leadership. Similar to many coalitions, decisions are taken in assemblies in a very egalitarian manner. “This movement is horizontal. There is no leadership,” he insists.
When asked about the level of encouragement from Spaniards and the media, Felix says, with lament: “Well, the media has treated us very badly. Public newspapers have treated us well, but many others have treated us like people not worthy of respect. They’ve treated this movement very badly. Many of them side with ‘the system’ and with the government.”
Ahram Online: So what are the demands?
Felix: A change of this generation’s leaders in government. Elections reform. Stronger banking regulations. A more participatory system, where governments don’t make rules for the rich or to benefit themselves: limiting leaders’ powers. Controlling superfluous government spending.
AO: Do you think that if the things in Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, etc hadn’t erupted if this wouldn’t also be happening in Spain?
Felix: Well, I don’t know if it’s all just a coincidence what’s been going on in the Arab countries and what’s been going on here. But it’s happened. 15M is also a point of reference in many countries now.
AO: Have there been any protests anywhere close to this range of 30,000? Or 100,000 like there were in June in Madrid?
Felix: Well, no. Before 15 May there were no protests on this scale.
There was a call for people to march from their home towns all over Spain towards Madrid in six "columns" as they called them and to pick up people along the way until they reach Madrid on the 23rd. They camped out and the on the 24th welcomed into Plaza del Sol.
During the day at Plaza del Sol on the big day - 24 July - the ambiance was of tired backpackers, but whenever a new column paraded in from one of the streets that radiate from the square everyone immediately lost their exhaustion: an eruption of happiness, percussion, chants and greetings ensue.
Fernando Carasas, one of the indignados (indignants, in a literal translation) that helped organise the marches says that he began just as a simple observer of what he thought was going to be a low-key social movement. He thought it would last three days. Somehow he found himself supporting the cause for two months.
Carasas now identifies the movement as something larger than just a social movement. He finds that he and others are calling for a fundamental change in the model of representative democracy. Many view politicians as only serving themselves and their cliques and no longer represent the people. As another group parades in they chant "They call it democracy, but it's not."
When asked whether these changes are necessary only in Spain, or if it has anything to do with what's going on in the rest of the world, Carasas flatly and immediately replied "No. This is something that is happening everywhere in the world."
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