socialismartnature: Night and day: Massive crowds against austerity measures gather outside the Spain Parliament in Madrid on 25 September 2012. (Source)

Businessweek: Rajoy is vowing to cut the deficit by at least 18 billion euros ($23.2 billion) next year, defying tens of thousands of demonstrators who fought with police in Madrid this week to demand the premier reverse course and resign. Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, Economy Minister Luis de Guindos and Budget Minister Cristobal Montoro will brief reporters on the budget and a package of reforms at 5 p.m. in Madrid. “Rajoy is likely to face a very tough end of year in terms of social discontent,” said Antonio Barroso, a political analyst at Eurasia Group in London and a former Spanish government pollster. “Protests are likely to continue in the future, and the overall degree of mobilization could increase if trade unions decide to call for a general strike.”

Washington Post: The latest rally Saturday is expected to draw tens of thousands of people angered by government spending cuts and tax hikes. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government says the measures will continue into next year, as will the economic recession. Spain’s unemployment rate is almost 25 percent, and more than half of people under 24 are jobless.