In Spain, the governing Socialist Party has suffered major losses in local elections amidst a growing grassroots uproar calling for a radical change. The Socialists, led by Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, were ousted from office in nearly all of Spain’s major cities and autonomous regions. In a speech, Zapatero conceded his party had been punished for an economic crisis that has left unemployment at 21 percent. Protesters, meanwhile, are vowing to remain in the streets after a week-long action against austerity measures in the run-up to the elections. The nascent movement, dubbed “Real Democracy Now” or “M-15” after its start date of May 15th, has attracted tens of thousands of people across Spain. At the movement’s base camp in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol Square, protesters voted to continue demonstrating.

Protester: “For the moment, we have decided to stay at least for one more week, but that does not exclude the possibility of staying indefinitely or until we achieve something. We will stay at least one more week.”

The Spanish movement has published a list of demands, which includes the shutting down of all nuclear power plants and changes to foreclosure laws.