Madrid:
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the Spanish capital Madrid protesting unemployment a week before voters elect a new government.
About 1500 protesters took to the streets of Madrid on Sunday - a week before Spain's general election. The demonstrators - many from the ongoing Los Indignados (the "indignant ones") movement - denounced the government's austerity measures and corporate greed.
"What these kind of demonstrations do is help to awake sleeping consciousness," one protester said.
The march past the world-famous Prado museum and Madrid's city hall ended at the Puerta del Sol plaza, where economic protests began last May.
The demonstration was smaller than one held October 15, when at least 10,000 people marched in Madrid on a day when Occupy Wall Street-style protests spread to Europe, Asia and Australia.
Opinion polls are pointing to a big win next on Sunday (November 20) for the centre-right opposition Popular Party, led by Mariano Rajoy.
Polls say the ruling Socialists will be ousted because of their handling of the economic crisis that has left Spain with 21.5 percent unemployment. Although Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government has introduced several labour reform and austerity packages, they have so far failed to lift the country.
Zapatero, the Socialist prime minister since 2004, is not running for re-election. Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba has replaced Zapatero as the party's candidate.
About 1500 protesters took to the streets of Madrid on Sunday - a week before Spain's general election. The demonstrators - many from the ongoing Los Indignados (the "indignant ones") movement - denounced the government's austerity measures and corporate greed.
"What these kind of demonstrations do is help to awake sleeping consciousness," one protester said.
The march past the world-famous Prado museum and Madrid's city hall ended at the Puerta del Sol plaza, where economic protests began last May.
The demonstration was smaller than one held October 15, when at least 10,000 people marched in Madrid on a day when Occupy Wall Street-style protests spread to Europe, Asia and Australia.
Opinion polls are pointing to a big win next on Sunday (November 20) for the centre-right opposition Popular Party, led by Mariano Rajoy.
Polls say the ruling Socialists will be ousted because of their handling of the economic crisis that has left Spain with 21.5 percent unemployment. Although Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government has introduced several labour reform and austerity packages, they have so far failed to lift the country.
Zapatero, the Socialist prime minister since 2004, is not running for re-election. Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba has replaced Zapatero as the party's candidate.
