Protest

07
Nov 2024
17:34 UTC

Spain Tactical: Anti-government protests slated nationwide, including Barcelona, Madrid, on November 8-9; maintain heightened vigilance

Current Situation

  • Reports indicate that anti-government protests are slated in multiple cities, including Barcelona and Madrid, on November 8-9.  
  • The demonstrations are being organized to denounce local, regional, and national governments for their lack of preparedness and ineffective response to the recent floods in Valencia and eastern Spain. Protesters will also express solidarity with the victims of the flash floods. 
  • In Barcelona, a rally is scheduled at Placa de Sant Jaume at 12:00 (local time) on November 8.  
  • The demonstration is part of a nationwide action outside town halls and workplaces called by major unions, including Comissions Obreres de Catalunya (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), at noon on November 8. A nationwide 10-minute strike is also planned at all public and private workplaces at noon.  

Source: X/Twitter, UGT 

  • In Alicante, a protest demanding the resignation of the Valencian government’s President Carlos Mazon is slated at Escaleras de Jorge Juan from 18:00 on November 9. 

Source: X/Twitter 

  • In Valencia, multiple civil society groups will march from Plaza del Ayuntamiento to the Palau de la Generalitat at 18:00. 

Source: X/Twitter 

  • In Madrid, a protest is slated outside the headquarters of the socialist Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol (PSOE) party on Calle Ferraz at 20:00. 
  • The protest will demand the resignation of PM Pedro Sanchez, Defense Minister Margarita Robles, and Valencia’s Mazon, over their alleged lack of preparedness and ineffective response to the floods. 

Source: X/Twitter 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on local and social media estimates, coupled with the high public dissatisfaction with the government, the November 9 protest outside the PSOE headquarters will likely garner an attendance ranging in the mid-to-high thousands. The noon protests slated for November 8 are anticipated to vary in turnout, ranging from the low to high hundreds, with the demonstration in Barcelona liable to attract the largest attendance.  
  2. The prevalence of elevated public discontent indicates the possibility of the protests in Alicante and Valencia recording an attendance ranging in the low-to-mid thousands. However, the current on-ground situation, with emergency operations severely disrupting travel, is anticipated to lower the turnout. 
  3. Given heightened sentiments over the protest issue, the slated demonstrations hold a potential for unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and police personnel. The risk of such unrest is expected to heighten should far-right activists infiltrate the demonstrations. Moreover, there is also a risk for far-left activists joining protests in Barcelona, also raising the associated risk level. Protests involving either far-left or far-right radical actors are liable to see the use of pyrotechnics and projectiles, especially targeting police. Moreover, instances of vandalism cannot be ruled out given heightened sentiments.  
  4. A bolstered security presence is liable to be deployed outside the aforementioned protest locations to monitor the proceedings as a precautionary measure. In case of escalation, authorities are liable to use forcible crowd control measures, including conducting arrests.  
  5. Disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic should be anticipated near the aforementioned locations during the slated protest timings. 

Recommendations

Those operating or residing in Spain on November 8-9 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of the planned protests linked to the floods in Valencia and eastern Spain due to the potential for unrest. 

COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Spain
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible

Current Situation

  • Reports indicate that anti-government protests are slated in multiple cities, including Barcelona and Madrid, on November 8-9.  
  • The demonstrations are being organized to denounce local, regional, and national governments for their lack of preparedness and ineffective response to the recent floods in Valencia and eastern Spain. Protesters will also express solidarity with the victims of the flash floods. 
  • In Barcelona, a rally is scheduled at Placa de Sant Jaume at 12:00 (local time) on November 8.  
  • The demonstration is part of a nationwide action outside town halls and workplaces called by major unions, including Comissions Obreres de Catalunya (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), at noon on November 8. A nationwide 10-minute strike is also planned at all public and private workplaces at noon.  

Source: X/Twitter, UGT 

  • In Alicante, a protest demanding the resignation of the Valencian government’s President Carlos Mazon is slated at Escaleras de Jorge Juan from 18:00 on November 9. 

Source: X/Twitter 

  • In Valencia, multiple civil society groups will march from Plaza del Ayuntamiento to the Palau de la Generalitat at 18:00. 

Source: X/Twitter 

  • In Madrid, a protest is slated outside the headquarters of the socialist Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol (PSOE) party on Calle Ferraz at 20:00. 
  • The protest will demand the resignation of PM Pedro Sanchez, Defense Minister Margarita Robles, and Valencia’s Mazon, over their alleged lack of preparedness and ineffective response to the floods. 

Source: X/Twitter 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on local and social media estimates, coupled with the high public dissatisfaction with the government, the November 9 protest outside the PSOE headquarters will likely garner an attendance ranging in the mid-to-high thousands. The noon protests slated for November 8 are anticipated to vary in turnout, ranging from the low to high hundreds, with the demonstration in Barcelona liable to attract the largest attendance.  
  2. The prevalence of elevated public discontent indicates the possibility of the protests in Alicante and Valencia recording an attendance ranging in the low-to-mid thousands. However, the current on-ground situation, with emergency operations severely disrupting travel, is anticipated to lower the turnout. 
  3. Given heightened sentiments over the protest issue, the slated demonstrations hold a potential for unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and police personnel. The risk of such unrest is expected to heighten should far-right activists infiltrate the demonstrations. Moreover, there is also a risk for far-left activists joining protests in Barcelona, also raising the associated risk level. Protests involving either far-left or far-right radical actors are liable to see the use of pyrotechnics and projectiles, especially targeting police. Moreover, instances of vandalism cannot be ruled out given heightened sentiments.  
  4. A bolstered security presence is liable to be deployed outside the aforementioned protest locations to monitor the proceedings as a precautionary measure. In case of escalation, authorities are liable to use forcible crowd control measures, including conducting arrests.  
  5. Disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic should be anticipated near the aforementioned locations during the slated protest timings. 

Recommendations

Those operating or residing in Spain on November 8-9 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of the planned protests linked to the floods in Valencia and eastern Spain due to the potential for unrest. 

COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Spain
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible