The mostly young protestors on Bastille square unfurled a giant banner on the steps of the opera house that read: “Real democracy now”, and opened another nearby that said: “Paris, wake up!”

The Spanish protests are known variously as “the indignant”, “M-15” after the birth date of their movement, and “Spanish Revolution”.

At the vanguard of the rallies in Madrid, protesters remained camped in the central square Puerta del Sol but in smaller numbers than at the peak just before Spain’s May 22 local elections.