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Thousands of protesters have marched on the parliament building in Madrid as anger over austerity measures and tax hikes increases in the country.
More than 1,000 riot police blocked off access to the parliament building in the centre of the capital.
Officers used batons to push back some protesters at the front of the march.
The demonstration, with an "Occupy Congress" slogan, drew protesters weary of nine straight months of painful measures imposed by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Spain is struggling in its second recession in three years with unemployment near 25%.
The country has introduced austerity measures and economic reforms as it attempts to convince its euro partners and investors it is serious about reducing its deficit to 6.3% of GDP this year.
The deficit reached €50.1bn - equivalent to 4.77% of GDP - in August, the government revealed on Tuesday.
Secretary of state for the budget Marta Fernandez Curras said the deficit "is under control".
Spain has been under pressure from investors to apply for European Central Bank assistance to keep its borrowing costs down.
The government is expected to present a new batch of reforms on Thursday as it unveils a draft budget for 2013.
