Spain is undergoing a new political shockwave following the publication of a damning report by the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard, which highlights alleged corruption within the governing Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). The first political consequence has been the resignation of Santos Cerdán, the party’s Secretary of Organization and right-hand man to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. But public pressure is not easing: thousands of citizens have taken to the streets to demand not only further resignations but also a radical change in the way politics is conducted.
The epicenter of the protests has been Madrid’s Ferraz Street, home to the PSOE’s national headquarters. This Thursday, around 600 people, according to the Government Delegation, gathered in front of the building chanting slogans such as “Sánchez resign!” and “Corrupt government!” The protest, organized via social media, was supported by the right-wing VOX party and other groups.
The demonstrations were not limited to the capital. In cities like Valencia, chants against the prime minister took on a harsher tone, reflecting deep public anger. The perception of systemic corruption that extends not only through the ruling party but across major state institutions has taken hold in large sectors of society.
In Ferraz, tensions escalated as the evening wore on. Although the protest remained peaceful—with Spanish flags, chants, and drums—there was also criticism of the main opposition Popular Party (PP), especially toward Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso and the party’s national leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, whom some attendees accused of weakness or complicity.
Hoy en Ferraz @PerezRoldanJM y yo hemos hablado con el reportero de @TheObjective_es (uno de los medios que mejor investiga la corrupción) pic.twitter.com/SkhfcCVW80
— Ignacio Arsuaga (@iarsuaga) June 12, 2025
VOX has called for a new march this Friday at 9:00 p.m., demanding the immediate resignation of the government. VOX leader Santiago Abascal, who returned to Spain from an event in Paraguay, was particularly scathing: “Will he also audit his own family?” he asked sarcastically, referring to ongoing judicial investigations involving Sánchez’s wife and brother. The VOX leader urged the PP to break all cooperation with the PSOE, both in Spain and in Brussels, and to present a motion of no confidence.
So far, the Popular Party has not mobilized its base nor shown any sign of leading an official counteroffensive. This passivity has drawn sharp criticism from VOX, which points out that it lacks the minimum 35 MPs required to present a motion of no confidence on its own.
Pedro Sánchez, for his part, held a press conference on Thursday afternoon to apologize to the public and announced an internal audit of the PSOE. However, he firmly rejected an early election. The opposition considers these measures insufficient and demands stronger accountability. Having the party audit itself is hardly the most credible measure to combat corruption.
The events of recent hours confirm that public discontent has reached a boiling point. Once again, the streets become the barometer of a democracy in crisis, where demands for transparency, justice, and political renewal can no longer be ignored.