Spain’s Parliament took on the appearance of a heavily guarded fortress on Tuesday, hours ahead of a protest against the conservative government’s handling of the economic crisis.
The demonstration, organised behind the slogan ‘Occupy Congress’, is expected to draw thousands of people from around Spain.
Madrid’s regional Interior Ministry delegation said some 1,300 police would be deployed though protesters say they have no intention of storming the chamber, only of marching around it.
They are calling for fresh elections, claiming the government’s austerity measures show the ruling Popular Party misled voters to get elected last November.
The protest comes as Spain struggles in its second recession in three years and with unemployment near 25 per cent.
Spain has introduced austerity measures and economic reforms in a bid to convince its euro partners and investors that it is serious about reducing its bloated deficit to 6.3 per cent of gross domestic product this year and 4.5 per cent next year.