"It's not the same who governs": the left wing mobilizes on Spanish May Day coinciding with the start of the Andalusian campaign

The main demonstration on a Spanish scale this May 1st took place in Malaga, coinciding with the first day of the Andalusian elections campaign. Under the slogan "Rights, not trenches. Salaries, housing, and democracy", thousands of workers have taken to the streets to demand better salaries, decent and affordable housing, and respect for international law. The demonstration, however, was heavily marked by electoral coded messages launched by progressive leaders who mobilized, taking advantage of the first day of the campaign in Andalusia.

"It matters who governs", claimed Yolanda Díaz from Malaga. The second vice-president of the Spanish government and Minister of Labour called directly on the working class —on "the people who do need quality and decent public healthcare— to go and vote on May 17th. The PSOE candidate for the Junta, María Jesús Montero, also recalled that Andalusia is "on the eve of elections where citizens can choose what model of society they want" and highlighted the issue of housing, "a luxury good that is not very affordable for many people, especially young people". Apart from Díaz and Montero, other political representatives were seen at the central march in Malaga, such as Minister Elma Saiz; and the candidate for Por Andalucía, Antonio Maíllo, federal leader of IU.

At the head of the march through the streets of central Malaga, and as is usual, were also the general secretaries of UGT and CCOO, Pepe Álvarez and Unai Sordo. The unions, which estimate participation at around 20,000 people, have warned of the risk of a “democratic and social regression” and have pointed to the far-right as a threat to Europe and to workers' rights. In the Andalusian context, unions fear that the right-wing parties will once again occupy the regional government for four more years, as has happened in Aragon, Extremadura, and Castilla y León.