Thousands rally in Madrid to demand snap election over corruption allegations

Pressure grows on Pedro Sanchez amid series of claims involving his family, party and administration

Tens of thousands of people have attended an anti-government demonstration in Madrid to demand a snap general election as the country's socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, tries to weather a series of corruption allegations involving his family, his party and his administration.

Sunday's protest, called by Spain's conservative People's party (PP) under the slogan, This is it: mafia or democracy?", was held three days after one of Sanchez's closest erstwhile allies, the former transport minister Jose Luis Abalos, was remanded in custody by a judge investigating an alleged kickbacks-for-contracts scheme.