30,000 March in Madrid: Public Healthcare Crisis Fuels Massive Protest

MADRID, SPAIN – Thousands took to the streets of Madrid on May 25, 2025, in a powerful demonstration demanding improvements to the public healthcare system. The protest, which drew an estimated 30,000 participants according to government figures, highlighted a range of critical issues. Long wait lists for appointments, a severe shortage of pediatricians, and a general lack of medical professionals were among the key concerns raised by protesters. The recent indictment of three former officials in the Ayuso government for their handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic added fuel to the fire. Manuela Bergerot, spokesperson for Más Madrid in the Assembly, stated, "The indictment of Mr. Burgeño demonstrates that the protocols only occurred in the Community of Madrid." Reyes Maroto, spokesperson for the PSOE in the Madrid City Council, emphasized the need for political accountability, saying, "What we want is political responsibility, because we know where this last link ends: in the Chamberí attic." The demonstration underscored the deep-seated public frustration with the current state of healthcare and the demand for transparency and justice regarding the pandemic-era nursing home deaths. The sheer size of the protest and the prominent role of the pandemic-related indictments suggest this is a story with legs.