The Republican Coordination of Madrid had applied for permission to march through the Spanish capital from midday until 2pm – the same time and route as the enthronement parade of the Prince and Princess of Asturias.
But the government’s Madrid representative turned the request down and stated, “It is incompatible with the security measures which must be adopted for the acts which will take place related to the proclamation of the Prince of Asturias as King of Spain.”
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia are due to be crowned as king and queen consort but many Spaniards have openly declared their support for republicanism in the days following the recent abdication of King Juan Carlos.
A recent poll showed that 62% of Spaniards want a referendum on the future of the monarchy and tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest.
Madrid’s anti-royals responded to the red light by releasing a statement noting that although the decision indicated that the prohibition had been made “without prejudice to any further communication regarding another date or route,“ no other options had been given, thus guaranteeing that they would be found to be “in an indefensible position of being, de facto, denied the right to protest.”
According to Spanish daily 20 Minutos, the march has been abandoned in favour of a static protest in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol at midday on Thursday.
Spain’s next king has already spoken out about the importance of the “fundamental right” to protest in the wake of republican demonstrations across the country.
Madrid's mayor, Ana Botella, who has previously spoken out against the right to protest in the city centre, has meanwhile encouraged residents to decorate their balconies for the occasion of the enthronement.
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