In the fourth demonstration called in the last five years in the province of León, several thousand people gathered in the streets of the capital to demand a future and economic and social development. Flags, banners, slogans, and songs highlighted the importance of social and political Leonese identity in the protest, which included the participation of unions like UGT, CCOO, USO, and CGT.
The leader of the Union of the Leonese People, Luis Mariano Santos, urged the majority parties present to change their policies, while the provincial leader of the PSOE, Javier Alfonso Cendón, emphasized the unity of action among the people of León. The mayor of the capital, José Antonio Diez, stressed the strong Leonese claim.
Union and political representatives, as well as citizens and public officials from various regions, joined the mobilization. Gerardo Álvarez Courel, president of the Provincial Council, called for more investments for León managed by Leonese people, in line with the demand for a new territorial framework to change the policies that have impoverished the region.
The demonstration, which gathered around 13,000 people according to official figures, primarily targeted the Junta and the central Government. The unions promoted a consensual discourse stating they would not cease their demands until they were heard, calling for a self-managed economic plan.
The provincial leader of UGT, Enrique Reguero, highlighted that "León exists and starts to roar again today," supported by other union representatives like Óscar Lobo and Elena Blasco from CCOO. The requests included an emergency public investment plan to address issues like unemployment, depopulation, and deindustrialization.
In the final manifesto of the march, the need for solutions and a strong commitment from all administrations to tackle the challenges facing the province and ensure a prosperous future for generations to come was emphasized.
