Madrid strike: Belarra alleges police brutality
In Madrid, Spain, police identify Podemos leader Ione Belarra at a picket during the 11 November general strike. She now asks Congress president Francina Armengol to protect her as an MP. Belarra says she witnessed police intimidation, arbitrary identity checks and unjustified assaults that day.
In a letter to Armengol, Belarra argues that police actions obstructed people exercising their rights. She asks the Congress president to intervene on her behalf.
Belarra renewed her call on Thursday for Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska to resign and be kept off the Socialist Party’s election lists. She alleged baton blows, head and rib injuries, sexual assaults and 50 arrests. Those are her allegations, not a confirmed police account.
Podemos sources say her reference to sexual assaults concerns complaints on social media about a video showing an officer placing his hand on the chest of an Adelante Andalucía regional MP to move her aside at a picket. Podemos MEP Irene Montero also called on Wednesday for Grande-Marlaska to resign and for Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez to leave him off the party’s election lists.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com