What the miners ask for is continued support to the sector, or at least a less abrupt closure, as they see their villages and regions – some which live almost entirely on the coalmines – threatened by the closedown of the industry, affecting about 2,000 miners in the northern parts of Spain.

The government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has pushed forward an ambitious austerity program to tackle the deep economic crisis that includes budget cuts, not only in the mining sector, but in education, health care and several other sectors.

The protesters say they are determined not to leave the capital until they have reached an agreement with the authorities.