Over 50 demonstrations held in Spain against reforms

MADRID - More than 50 demonstrations and rallies were held on Monday in many cities across Spain to protest against the reform measures carried out by the Spanish government.

Organizer of the actions the "Social Council," which is made up by the main Spanish trade unions and over 150 organizations, wanted the government to call for a referendum so that Spaniards can give their opinion about the latest measures adopted by the government.

A demonstrator carries a sign that reads, "They won't shut us up!" during a march to protest the Spanish government's decision to stop pensions rising in line with inflation, in Madrid Dec 17, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

The slogan of the demonstrations read, "Let's go to the street against the cuts on pensions. Defend yourself from court fees, privatizations, wild dismissals and lack of unemployment protection."

The new law on court fees, coming into effect on Monday, made Spaniards pay court fees, for the first time, in civil, administrative and social process. Appealing to the Supreme tribunal will cost 1,200 euros (1,580 U.S. dollars), which is considered to be beyond the means of ordinary people.

Spanish trade unions said this measure would prevent people from accessing justice.

Also, they believed the measures of Mariano Rajoy's government are undermining social and collective rights as they make it more difficult to have a public system of health and education.

But Rajoy defended on Monday the measures adopted by his government to fight the crisis.

At the opening of the inter-parliamentary meeting of his political party in Toledo, he said the government had worked a lot and said the reforms were "ambitious, indispensable and far-reaching."