8 Mar, 2019 @ 13:08
1 min read

Women across Spain protest on International Women’s Day as political parties clash over feminism

GEARING UP: Feminist protesters in Galicia at the weekend before the main marches on International Women’s Day

WOMEN across Spain have organised 500 protests across the country on International Women’s Day.

Students in Madrid and Barcelona are striking at midday to highlight the crucial role of women in society.

Feminist group, Comisión 8M, said the aim of the marches was ‘subverting the world order and the pervading hetero-patriarchal, racist and neoliberal rhetoric’.

Meanwhile, in the Andalucian parliament the 12 deputies of the far-right Vox party are the only politicians to reject the calls of the left-wing PSOE for political groups to join the strikes.

Women in Spain

• Female unemployment is 3.5% higher than men’s

• Women do 74% of part-time jobs

• Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez put women in 65% of his cabinet roles

• Women make up 55.2% of public sector jobs in Spain, but get paid €2,500 less on average than men

• 47 women in Spain were killed by gender violence last year

RECORD-BREAKER: Sanchez appointed women to 65% of his cabinet roles

It comes as President of the region, Juan Manuel Moreno, is set to create a working group to tackle gender violence.

But there was disagreement in the house, as the PSOE said the conservative PP party’s ‘commitment to equality is zero’.

The PP hit back by saying that the PSOE party’s initiatives were ‘disguised as feminism’.

READ MORE:

REJECTION: Vox were the only party in Andalucia to go against calls to join International Women’s Day protests

At a national level, Pedro Sanchez has beaten the record for the number of women in his PSOE cabinet, after he appointed female politicians to 65% of Government roles when he took office.

The PP however came under fire on Thursday after announcing its politicians would not attend the marches in Madrid.

GIRL POWER: The women appointed to Government by Pedro Sanchez after he took office in June last year

In a statement the PP said: “Far-left parties want to monopolize this demonstration, looking to create division and conflict between men and women, and even between women of different ideologies.”

It is not yet clear how many people have joined the protests on March 8 this year, but last year the numbers reached 5.3 million, according to unions.

Previous Story

Female gypsy Vox candidate wants to undo Spain’s gender violence laws as fight for women’s rights turns ugly in run-up to the 8M strike today

Next Story

Huge traffic jams after truck overturns on Spain’s Costa del Sol

Latest from Lead

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press

2 bedroom Penthouse for sale in Caleta de Velez with pool garage - € 279

2 bedroom Penthouse for sale in Caleta de Velez with pool garage – € 279,500

Penthouse Caleta de Vélez, Málaga   2 beds   1

How Expats in Spain Can Access Uk Online Slots Games

Living as an expat in another country comes with a