Spain Holds Elections Amid Protests

Spanish voters headed to the polls for regional and local elections Sunday. But demonstrations continued despite a Spanish law banning pre-election protests. On Saturday, 30,000 people had camped out in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square Saturday—and police declined to disperse the demonstration Sunday. Demonstrations began a week ago in the form of a sit-in by people frustrated with the country's 45 percent youth unemployment, but have since grown with people angry over the country's economic recession and government austerity measures. Protesters are urging others not to vote for either of Spain's two main parties, the current governing Socialists or the center-right opposition, which they hope will demonstrate their need for democratic change. Despite the large number of demonstrators, analysts say the protests will not alter the outcome of Sunday's elections much.