In Madrid this week? Read this…

Thanks for posting about this Scudder. Spain is currently going through the worst political crisis since the 2017 Catalan Separatist Referendum. Many people are angry and are taking to the street to vent their anger, not just in Madrid, but in most of the major cities of Spain.

I'll mention for Madrid specifically most of the violence is not super in the tourist zones, but more centred around the PSOE HQ on Calle Ferraz. Things are very much in the air now with Spain's democratic institutions in a lurch. The next few days will be very significant. I concur with you, as a foreigner if you see one of these manifestations walk the other way.

For those who want more context on what's going on - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/world/europe/spain-protests-sanchez.html

Thanks, Carlos.

I’d purposefully written my post without back-story, but do appreciate you adding some, Carlos. It is disappointing to see how one-sided that NYTimes story is—it’s practically pro-PP, totally failing to them out for their hypocrisies and embrace of frighteningly radical voices to further their own agendas.

It is disappointing to see how one-sided that NYTimes story is—it’s practically pro-PP

Not really... I think Mr. Horowitz does a good job of presenting the basic facts of why many people in Spain are so angry right now, without getting too embroiled in minutia. I very much doubt NYTimes is pro PP/VOX, they are practically on polar opposites of the political spectrum.

Thanks for a heads up on events in Madrid, Scudder. I am not there - but I also am not a news reader while gone - but DO check in on the forum regularly so if I were there, it would be helpful.

These are interesting times we are living in, to say the least.

they are practically on polar opposites of the political spectrum

While the reputation lives on, the NYTimes has spent a decade dismantling this as fact. This is, in fact, a perfect example of how they’ve done so—by holding politicians on the left to much higher critical standards while being quite un-questioning of manipulations of truths on the right.

And it’s hard for me to see as a bogged-down detail PP’s failure to denounce, but in fact embrace, violent mobs making myself and my loved ones targets by shouting that political opponents are all “M*ricones”, and as such, should be run out of the country. (Their anti-semitism is equally concerning, and the leaders they’re supporting are equally silent about that.)

Thanks for the information. Glad I’m not there right now.

For those interested on how it looks like on the ground currently Spain's national broadcaster has a live feed of the current protests going on in Madrid now around Calle Ferraz. It looks like these will be a nightly occurrence for the foreseeable future. As you can see from the crowd makeup, the protesters come from all walks of life in Spain with both young and old, men and women.

https://www.youtube.com/live/_JdOrcFR8aM?feature=shared

Now that Sanchez has been voted in as Spain’s Prime Minister, we could see a reving up of unrest. Places currently impacted include Puerta Del Sol in addition to Calle Ferraz. Potentially the area around la Moncloa could also see protests.

I left Madrid yesterday. I've never seen so many police vans. Tons of road closures. Allow for extra time if going to the airport as our poor cab driver had to work some magic to weave in and out and maneuver the barricades.

Scudder thanks for the update. Its what serves the forum well.

Thanks for the info or warning.
We'll be in Madrid for the first time Jan 5-8, following a week in Seville and Granada.
I thought I'd book the Hotel Europa that Rick recommends but, with this situation, it sounds like something less central might be wiser. Any suggestions of a convenient hotel or neighborhood that's not quite so central?

This is a very temporary thing and by Jan 5-8 this will be long gone, you should not worry at all about this. It´s also located in a very small area of Madrid, this is not riots all over the city, life goes on as usual in the 99,99% of the city. By the way, Jan 5 is the big Three Kings Parade (the three magi bringing presents to Spanish kids) and Jan 6 is a vacation day all over Spain.

This is a very temporary thing

Perhaps I'm a little more skeptical, but I think it's way too early to tell how and when this will end up, it's all still very much in the air. I'll remind you Mikel that the very disruptive manifestations in Barcelona against the trial of the Catalan separatist leaders back in 2019 lasted for over a month.

Massive anti Sanchez protest starting now at Plaza de Cibeles in the heart of Madrid. Will be impacting traffic in the area.

Headed to Madrid tonight for a week. Any suggestions on how to keep informed on areas to avoid? Staying near Atocha and then the Anton Martin station area.

Unfortunately most major Spanish news outlets are not covering the specific details of the protests for political reasons, so it's pretty difficult to know what's going on when in advance.

The typical pattern has been during the week smaller protests around the PSOE HQ on Calle Ferraz. And then on Saturday/Sunday a larger protest in one of the main plazas around Madrid.

The best source of city information in Spain are local taxi drivers. If you take a taxi once you're in Madrid ask about where/when the next big protests will be, I'm sure the taxistas will know they're always collecting info.

I'll try to update this topic if there are any big news.

Social media is a better source for information that’s more up to the minute—Spanish newspapers have been keeping pretty current there. El Mundo has a live feed on Instagram from Cibeles right now, actually (12:30 in Spain)

Among others, I follow
El Mundo: https://instagram.com/elmundo_es
El País: https://instagram.com/el_pais
El Diario: https://instagram.com/eldiarioes

I imagine Twitter/X, too. But I quit that well before it got even worse with the buyout.

Perhaps I'm a little more skeptical, but I think it's way too early to tell how and when this will end up, it's all still very much in the air. I'll remind you Mikel that the very disruptive manifestations in Barcelona against the trial of the Catalan separatist leaders back in 2019 lasted for over a month.
Blockquote

We are talking almost two months time until the visit, there´s very little chance that these demonstrations will last that long...it´s never happened before and it´s rare that it will occur this time. Besides, Madrid is a very large city and the protests are basically concentrated on just ONE street. My friends in Madrid keep telling me that life is business as usual in 99.90% of the city, and I´m more inclined to believe them over some media infos.

I am in Madrid now. Arrived yesterday. Was in plaza Cibeles about an hour ago and any protest seems to have dispersed. Only saw a few folks draped in the Spanish flag. No police presence from what I could see. Streets are packed with what I’m assuming to be locals enjoying a Saturday

Yesterday when arriving there was a group of cops at plaza independencia. Outside of that I’ve only seen what I assume to be a normal police presence around the place

Nearly 200,000 people show up at the manifestation today in Madrid, but it was more of a political speech event than an actual protest. The crowd mostly dispersed after the speeches ended around midday. The potential for violence is more heightened late at night when the Ultras begin agitating the crowds. The police aren't taking any chances though that's probably why you're seeing heightened activity. Crowds are already starting to gather now around the PSOE HQ on Calle Ferraz for tonight's manifestation.

Oh, my on-the-ground assessment is similar to Arnold’s, though compared to prior visits I have noted an increased police presence. (Nothing approaching militaristic levels.)

Woody Joe, I wouldn’t have any concerns about your dates in January. Actually, I’ll be back those same days.

Update: A mass anti Sanchez mobilization in Madrid is set for the weekend of Dec 2. No specific details have been revealed just yet.

My husband and I are thinking of going to Madrid during the Christmas week. Would you suggest it's not a good time to go because of the unrest?

Victoriajoycohen— you’ll be fine. I wouldn’t give it a second though.

victoriajoycohen, I think the important thing is to avoid Calle Ferraz, which is the daily flashpoint for the unrest. Also keep your ears open for bigger demonstrations that happen on the weekends like the one this weekend, they usually take place in main plazas or busy intersections.

Christmas week will be totally, absolutely safe. Nothing has been going on for the past days and no unrest is going on on the next weeks. Take it easy and r-e-l-a-x, you´re coming to a very safe part of the world.

Thanks very much for this information and for the reassurance. We made the jump and bought tickets for a week in Madrid this Christmas!

Thousands of people begin to gather in Madrid, in the sixth major event organized by the PP in two and a half months to protest against the future amnesty law and the pacts of the PSOE with the pro-independence parties for the investiture of Pedro Sánchez. The protest, held under the motto “In defense of the Constitution” in the central Debod temple, has been called a few meters from the national headquarters of the PSOE on Madrid's Ferraz street, and one day after the meeting held in Switzerland between the negotiators of the Socialist Party and those of Junts per Catalunya, with the Salvadoran diplomat Francisco Galindo Vélez as mediator.

Happening now in Madrid

https://elpais.com/espana/2023-12-03/ultimas-noticias-de-la-actualidad-politica.html

With an estimated attendance a tiny fraction of previous protests, and well clear of the most well-trod tourist paths, today's right-wing activation is almost a non-event.

In the context of an advisory to tourists visiting the capital, which was the original, specific purpose of this thread, I think we can safely consider the matter behind us.

A very peaceful demonstration, quite small considering the size of the city (Madrid has almost 4 million inhabitants and the estimated best assistance has been of 15,000 people), and absolutely safe. Nothing to worry about in terms of safety.