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| Spanish congress braces for protest against austerity | Spanish congress braces for protest against austerity |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Riot police have ringed the Spanish parliament in Madrid as protesters gather for a march against austerity tagged "Occupy Congress". | Riot police have ringed the Spanish parliament in Madrid as protesters gather for a march against austerity tagged "Occupy Congress". |
| Metal barriers have been placed around the building to block access from every possible direction, correspondents say. | Metal barriers have been placed around the building to block access from every possible direction, correspondents say. |
| Indignants, as the protesters are known, say they are protesting at the "kidnapping" of democracy. | Indignants, as the protesters are known, say they are protesting at the "kidnapping" of democracy. |
| Spain's provinces have piled pressure on the government with a possible new bailout request and an early election. | Spain's provinces have piled pressure on the government with a possible new bailout request and an early election. |
| Andalucia is considering asking for a 4.9bn euro (£3.9bn; $6.3bn) emergency credit line from the central government, a spokeswoman for the regional government confirmed for Reuters news agency. | Andalucia is considering asking for a 4.9bn euro (£3.9bn; $6.3bn) emergency credit line from the central government, a spokeswoman for the regional government confirmed for Reuters news agency. |
| Three other regions - Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia - have already said they will seek emergency funds. | Three other regions - Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia - have already said they will seek emergency funds. |
| In Catalonia, President Artur Mas called an early election for 25 November, which correspondents say will be a de facto referendum on his demands for greater independence for the province. | In Catalonia, President Artur Mas called an early election for 25 November, which correspondents say will be a de facto referendum on his demands for greater independence for the province. |
| There is real concern in Europe that Spain may need an international bailout going beyond the 100bn euros (£80bn; $125bn) pledged by eurozone finance ministers in June to rescue its banks. | There is real concern in Europe that Spain may need an international bailout going beyond the 100bn euros (£80bn; $125bn) pledged by eurozone finance ministers in June to rescue its banks. |
| 'Bailout suicide' | 'Bailout suicide' |
| Thousands of people have gathered in central Madrid for the march to parliament, due to begin at 17:30 (15:30 GMT). | Thousands of people have gathered in central Madrid for the march to parliament, due to begin at 17:30 (15:30 GMT). |
| Events in Catalonia are moving quickly. They are another reminder that the turmoil in the eurozone is not just a financial and economic crisis - it has become a political crisis too. | |
| Whether it is the demand in Catalonia for more autonomy or even independence from Spain, or it is the sudden rise of the neo-fascist Golden Dawn party in Greece, existing political systems are coming under enormous strain. | |
| People feel increasingly powerless. Many are questioning the influence they have over their own political systems, as governments of countries in crisis are forced to respond to external demands. That sense of unease is also feeding debates about the structure of the EU itself, and how it might become more democratic. Accountability has become a serious problem. | |
| Buses were reportedly laid on to ferry demonstrators into the capital from the provinces. | Buses were reportedly laid on to ferry demonstrators into the capital from the provinces. |
| One of the main protest groups, Coordinadora #25S, said the Indignants did not plan to storm parliament, only to march around it. | One of the main protest groups, Coordinadora #25S, said the Indignants did not plan to storm parliament, only to march around it. |
| The Coordinadora #25S manifesto reads: "Democracy has been kidnapped. On 25 September we are going to save it." | The Coordinadora #25S manifesto reads: "Democracy has been kidnapped. On 25 September we are going to save it." |
| Pablo Mendez, an activist from the 15M Indignants movement, told the Associated Press news agency: "This is just a powerful signal that we are sending to politicians to let them know that the Spanish bailout is suicide and we don't agree with it, and we will try to prevent it happening." | Pablo Mendez, an activist from the 15M Indignants movement, told the Associated Press news agency: "This is just a powerful signal that we are sending to politicians to let them know that the Spanish bailout is suicide and we don't agree with it, and we will try to prevent it happening." |
| Another demonstrator, Montse Puigdavall, said: "I'm here because of the situation we are living in now, because of all the social cuts and rights that we have lost, that took a lot of hard work to achieve. | Another demonstrator, Montse Puigdavall, said: "I'm here because of the situation we are living in now, because of all the social cuts and rights that we have lost, that took a lot of hard work to achieve. |
| "So we are here because we're determined not to lose them." | "So we are here because we're determined not to lose them." |
| Under Spanish law, people who lead demonstrations outside parliament that disrupt its business while it is in session may be jailed for up to one year, AFP notes. | Under Spanish law, people who lead demonstrations outside parliament that disrupt its business while it is in session may be jailed for up to one year, AFP notes. |
| Clashes have broken out at previous rallies and marches against the cuts and at least 1,300 police are said to be on duty at the Congress building. | Clashes have broken out at previous rallies and marches against the cuts and at least 1,300 police are said to be on duty at the Congress building. |
| The Spanish government is having to borrow heavily to cope with the effects of a property values collapse, a recession and the worst unemployment rate in the eurozone. | The Spanish government is having to borrow heavily to cope with the effects of a property values collapse, a recession and the worst unemployment rate in the eurozone. |
| Pressure | Pressure |
| After nine months in government, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is still resisting pressure to request a bailout. | After nine months in government, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is still resisting pressure to request a bailout. |
| His government insists the 100bn-euro pledge does not constitute an international financial rescue. | His government insists the 100bn-euro pledge does not constitute an international financial rescue. |
| If Mr Rajoy does request a bailout, it may not happen before late October because of a regional election in his home province, Galicia. | If Mr Rajoy does request a bailout, it may not happen before late October because of a regional election in his home province, Galicia. |
| Catalonia's election decision comes days after Mr Rajoy rejected a request from the wealthy but indebted region to run its own fiscal affairs. | Catalonia's election decision comes days after Mr Rajoy rejected a request from the wealthy but indebted region to run its own fiscal affairs. |
| The region is legally barred from holding an actual referendum on independence. | The region is legally barred from holding an actual referendum on independence. |
| "It is time to take the risk," Mr Mas told the regional parliament. "If Catalonia were a state we would be among the 50 biggest exporting countries in the world." | "It is time to take the risk," Mr Mas told the regional parliament. "If Catalonia were a state we would be among the 50 biggest exporting countries in the world." |
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