Pardons for Catalan leaders protested

Thousands of people called Sunday for Spain’s government to resign over its plan to issue pardons to a dozen separatist leaders who were convicted for their roles in a 2017 attempt to carve out an independent Catalan state, the boldest secession push in recent Spanish history. The demonstration in Madrid was the largest to date against the left-wing coalition government led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. It was organized by a civil society group in defence of Spain’s unity and held at a central square that has become a symbol for far-right political rallies.