MADRID - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Spain on Sunday to express their strong opposition to acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's plans to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists in exchange for their support for another term in office.

The government's recent deal with the Catalan separatist party Junts, which includes the controversial law granting amnesty to those convicted over Catalonia's failed secession attempt in 2017, has caused a wave of shock and criticism throughout the country. Sanchez's conservative opponents accuse him of jeopardizing the rule of law for personal political gains.

In Madrid's Puerta del Sol square, around 80,000 protesters gathered, demanding new elections. The People's Party (PP) leader, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, addressing the crowd, declared, "We will not shut up until there are new elections." The PP, which called for nationwide protests, estimated the overall turnout to be close to one million people.

Among the protesters were individuals waving Spanish and EU flags, alongside banners bearing slogans like "respect the Constitution." Tomas Perez, a 38-year-old banker, held a sign reading "Sanchez traitor" and expressed his disappointment, saying, "He (Sanchez) has betrayed coexistence, democracy... he can't keep governing."

The sentiment of disappointment was echoed by Inmaculada Herranz Castro, a 64-year-old citizen, who stated, "Many people that I know who vote for the Socialists feel absolutely disappointed because... Sanchez never said the amnesty would be part of his program."

Barcelona also saw demonstrations, with around 6,000 people taking part, according to local police. Authorities reported that demonstrations in Granada attracted approximately 30,000 protesters, while Seville witnessed a massive turnout of 50,000 people. Additional protests were held in cities including Malaga, Palma, and Valencia.

The Socialists, after an inconclusive election on July 23, engaged in negotiations with smaller political parties, including the far-left platform Sumar, as well as Catalan, Galician, and Basque nationalist parties. The recent support from Junts, along with the Basque Nationalist Party, would grant Sanchez an absolute majority in the lower house, which consists of 350 members. A vote is scheduled to take place in the coming days.

The backlash against Sanchez's amnesty plan reflects deep-rooted divisions within Spain, over both the lingering issue of Catalan separatism and the perceived willingness of the acting prime minister to compromise the rule of law for political advantage. As the protests continue, the future of Sanchez's government and the path forward for Catalonia remain uncertain.