Spanish protesters hold demo against new austerity cuts

People march during a demonstration against health and education cuts recently announced by the Spanish government, Madrid, Spain, Sunday, April 15, 2012.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/236470.html

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of the Spanish capital of Madrid to protest the government’s planned spending cuts in the health and education sectors.

The protesters carried banners with anti-government slogans and chanted, “Mariano, Mariano you won’t make it to the summer,” referring to the country’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

”I’m here to protect my son’s health and education, it’s basic for any society to cover those needs,” Reuters quoted one of the protesters as saying on Sunday.

The demonstration comes following the government’s announcement to make new cuts in the health and education sector worth 10 billion euros.

“For the working classes, this means the destruction of all the rights acquired over the last 40 to 50 years. It’s going to come in chapters, one day one thing, the next another and the next another,” said Manuel Fernandez, one of the protesters.

Meanwhile, a recent poll in Spain’s daily El Pais showed that support for Rajoy had witnessed a dramatic drop in April, due to the planned spending cuts.

Battered by the global financial downturn, the Spanish economy dipped into recession in the second half of 2008, taking millions of jobs with it. Many believe that Spain has entered its second recession.