Spanish Protesters Challenge Status Quo

May 22, 2011 from Al Jazeera English

In Spain's most politically conservative of cities, an unexpected and growing revolt - against the status quo, established political institutions, and against the old acceptance that nothing much will ever change. The country's ruling party is facing growing anger over Spain's economic problems, and many people shunned the polls and chosen to protest instead. Al Jazeera's Tim Friend reports from Madrid.

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Madrid

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be around 6.5 million. It is the third-largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and... Explore this topic

Protest

An act of defiance or objection by an individual or group of people. Protests can take many forms: peaceful or violent, direct or indirect, large or small. Protests in the news are often political in nature, as groups of citizens voice their disagreement or dissatisfaction. Pr... Explore this topic

Puerta del Sol

The Puerta del Sol is one of the best known and busiest places in Madrid. This is the centre of the radial network of Spanish roads. The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year. The New ... Explore this topic

Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a sovereign state and a member of the European Union . It is located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibral... Explore this topic

Sit-in

A sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more people nonviolently occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or economic change. Explore this topic

Election

An election contest is an opportunity for constituents to vote for a political party or candidate for a governmental office or seat, or the ability to run for a governmental office or seat (as is the case with primaries). For more information, please see the Freebase wiki pag... Explore this topic

Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera English is an international 24-hour English-language news and current affairs TV channel headquartered in Doha, Qatar. It is the sister channel of the Arabic-language Al Jazeera. The station broadcasts news features and analysis, documentaries, live debates, current... Explore this topic

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