Madrid locals vote on republic or monarchy

Localsin the Madrid neighbourhood of Vallecas had the chance yesterday to vote on whether they prefer Spain to be a monarchy or a republic. Vallekas Decide, which is linked to the alternative left and local social groups, put out 33 ballot boxes in the morning until 8pm so that the 150,000 local people over 16 could vote. The ballot paper included two questions: “Would you like a say on the type of State?” and “If so, would you like it to be a republic?” As the vote was in no way binding, voters were not asked for identification.

With the October 1 independence referendum still fresh in the memory, those against the initiative complained to the local authority, under the Podemos party, for allowing the vote to go ahead. Nevertheless, throughout the day, thousands of local people approached the ballot boxes to vote. Vallecas is an area where the Podemos party has been particularly successful, both in local and general elections, and was in fact where the Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias used to live until his controversial move to a luxury house.

According to Vallekas Decide and the organisations supporting it, yesterday’s initiative is to encourage the referendum model in the political debate on opening a new constituent process “in which the citizen’s voice can be heard” and to decide whether to continue with the monarchy.