Earlier in the day, Sanchez secured parliamentary support to govern, despite his party, the Socialist Party, not emerging as the largest in the July elections. The conservative victor, Alberto Nuñez Feijóo, faced two unsuccessful attempts to assume the role of prime minister.
Sanchez, on the contrary, formed a strategic alliance with Catalan separatist parties, a move that has stirred controversy. In exchange for their backing, Sanchez has proposed an amnesty law, signalling the end to the prosecution of numerous Catalan separatists involved in the push for independence.
This pact with the separatists has been met with daily protests over the past two weeks. The demonstration on Thursday notably featured a significant presence of right-wing extremists. These individuals brandished flags reminiscent of the era of the fascist dictator Franco, adorned themselves with Nazi symbols, and vocalized slogans against Muslims and migrants.