The Government admits that the images of the November 11th charges "displease" them but closes ranks with Marlaska: "We are going to await the conclusions of that investigation"

The Government maintains its support for Fernando Grande-Marlaska two days after the police charges against pickets and demonstrators during the general strike on 11N. The Executive's spokesperson, Elma Saiz, acknowledged this Friday that the images "displease" the Government and defended that the Minister of Interior has ordered an investigation into what happened. "We are going to await the conclusions of that investigation," she said after the extraordinary Council of Ministers, when asked about the calls for resignation that have also come from Sumar, PSOE's partner in the Executive.

Saiz claimed that the Government has acted in response to Wednesday's images and asked that the charges "not overshadow the social outcry and the legitimate demands" of those who took to the streets to demand decent housing and defend public services. The strike, promoted by CCOO, UGT and the Tenants' Union along with other organizations, also demanded better wages. The Madrid march gathered 120,000 people, according to the Government Delegation, and the Barcelona march 55,000, according to the Urban Guard.

Saiz's appearance reaffirmed the support that Pedro Sánchez gave Marlaska last night on 'El perro andaluz', on La 1. "Fernando is my left or right eye," said the president, who placed him alongside Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba among the best Interior ministers of democracy. Sánchez maintained that the order to charge did not come from the ministry and showed himself willing to review the action protocols. Podemos has criticized these words on its social networks:

Interior bans pepper spray in protests and maintains tear gas canisters

Interior has ordered the General Directorate of the Police to modify the protocol to prohibit individual defense spray in public order operations, including those for demonstrations. After announcing the restriction in broader terms on Thursday, the ministry clarified today that the National Police may continue to use tear gas smoke canisters and that individual spray will remain authorized in citizen security actions. The protocol that Interior has ordered to be reviewed was updated on October 19, less than a month before the strike.

Marlaska ruled out resigning this Thursday and admitted that some interventions "do not reconcile very well with the principles of proportionality". The minister has instructed the General Directorate of the Police to investigate the actions of the day and the Superior Police Headquarters of Madrid has already opened a confidential inquiry into the operation in the capital. There were charges both in the early morning, during a picket line in Mercamadrid, where at least 13 people needed medical attention, and in the afternoon on Gran Vía, after the end of the march.

CCOO and UGT have announced legal actions for what they consider a disproportionate use of force. Unai Sordo denounced the use of pepper spray against participants in the picket lines and Pepe Álvarez pointed out that the charges violated the right to strike. The Unified Police Union, for its part, criticized Interior for casting suspicion on the agents and Jupol even called for the minister's resignation over his response to the operation.

Maíllo brings Marlaska's continuity to the 29N campaign

The request for dismissal has come from the government partner itself. The parliamentary spokesperson for Sumar, Verónica Martínez Barbero, has demanded explanations and the minister's resignation. Ernest Urtasun, Minister of Culture and candidate for the Broad Front for Barcelona, has called for a thorough investigation into the charges against trade unionists. Irene Montero has also demanded that Sánchez dismiss Marlaska and remove him from the PSOE lists for the general elections.

Antonio Maíllo has gone a step further this Friday in Seville. The federal coordinator of Izquierda Unida has defended that Marlaska be left out of the next Executive if the Broad Front has the strength to agree on another progressive Government. On the first day of the campaign, Maíllo has taken the discussion to the terrain of the useful vote. In his opinion, the one requested by the PSOE would be "useful to keep Marlaska", whom he accuses of "not controlling his security forces".

The IU leader has also demanded "maximum transparency" regarding the police action on 11N. He recalled that members of his coalition were affected by the charges and has announced that his party will demand accountability and file the corresponding complaints.