Anti-austerity protests grip Spain

8 Oct 2012, 10:32 am   -   Source: AAP
Tens of thousands of people have marched in Spain in protest of planned austerity measures. (AAP)

Tens of thousands of people have marched in Spain in protest of planned austerity measures. (AAP)

Tens of thousands of Spanish protesters have chanted slogans against austerity and waved placards reading "youth without jobs, society with no future".

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Tens of thousands of people have marched in 56 Spanish cities to protest punishing austerity cuts they say will only increase unemployment and job insecurity in a country experiencing its second recession in three years and record high unemployment.

Around 20,000 people marched in Madrid on Sunday behind a banner that said: "They want to ruin the country. We have to stop them." The rally in Spain's capital was supported by 150 organisations.

Protesters chanted slogans against cuts and waved placards reading "youth without jobs, society with no future." That is a reference to the youth unemployment rate, which surpasses 50 per cent. Spain's overall jobless rate is nearly 25 per cent and social unrest is on the rise.

"They are abusing the lower social classes," 54-year-old teacher Luis Diaz said. "By backing banks, they are torturing the working class and badly affecting public education, health care and pensions when what they should be doing is exactly the opposite."

Trade union leaders said the marches warned the government that tempers were rising and a general strike was brewing.

Workers Commissions union spokesman Ignacio Fernandez Toxo said a likely date for the strike could be as early as November 14.

The government has implemented tough austerity measures over its nine months in office.

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