Your trusted source

The far-left Spanish party, Podemos, is holding a mass rally in the centre of Madrid looking to build on the recent victory of Syriza in Greece, the BBC reported.

Tens of thousands are reported to be attending the "March for Change" - one of its first outdoor mass rallies.

Podemos has surged into the lead in recent opinion polls, and says it will seek to write off part of Spain's debt if it wins elections later this year.

Podemos says politicians should "serve the people, not private interests."

The BBC's Tom Burridge in Madrid says that there has been an impressive turnout and a carnival atmosphere at the rally.

Protesters are parading in the same streets that have seen many other gatherings against financial crisis cutbacks imposed by successive governments over the last six years.

Many Spaniards are enraged over reports of political corruption and public spending cuts implemented by the governing People's Party and before that by the Socialists.