Anti-austerity movement in Spain

15-M Movement
Anti-austerity movement in Spain
15-M Movement; Anti-austerity movement in Spain
Part of the 2008–2014 Spanish financial crisis, the European debt crisis and the impact of the Arab Spring
	The Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, shown here on 20 May 2011, became a focal point and a symbol during the protests.
Date	15 May 2011 – 2015
Location	Spain
Caused by	Unemployment, economic conditions, welfare cuts, political corruption, particracy, unrepresentative bipartidism, democratic deficit
Goals	Direct democracy, reduce influence of economic powers in politics,
Methods	Demonstrations, civil disobedience, civil resistance, rioting, sit-ins, online activism, protest camps occupations
Number
6–8.5 million participants throughout Spain
Injuries and arrests
Injuries	1,527+ injuries

The anti-austerity movement in Spain, also referred to as the 15-M Movement (Spanish: Movimiento 15-M), and the Indignados Movement, was a series of protests, demonstrations, and occupations against austerity policies in Spain that began around the local and regional elections of 2011 and 2012. Beginning on 15 May 2011, many of the subsequent demonstrations spread through various social networks such as Real Democracy NOW (Spanish: Democracia Real YA) and Youth Without a Future (Spanish: Juventud Sin Futuro).

Spanish media related the movement to the 2008–14 Spanish financial crisis, the Arab Spring, as well as demonstrations in North Africa, Iran, Greece, Portugal, and Iceland. The movement was also compared to Stéphane Hessel's political manifesto Time for Outrage!, which was seen to empower Spanish youth who were not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Protestors rallied against high unemployment rates, welfare cuts, politicians, and the two-party system in Spain, as well as the political system, capitalism, banks, and public corruption. Many called for basic rights, of home, work, culture, health, and education. The movement transferred to Europe the model of the protest camp which had been formed in the Arab Spring, adapting it to a more countercultural framework. This would later expand until influencing the creation of Occupy Wall Street.

According to RTVE, the Spanish public broadcasting company, between 6.5 and 8 million Spaniards participated in these events.

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