A left-wing mayor of a town in Andalusia has become a modern-day Robin Hood, organising raids on supermarkets to feed the poor of his community.
Juan Manuel Sanchez Gordillo, 53, has, over the past week, led raids on supermarkets around Marinaleda, near Seville in Spain, arguing that "someone has to do something so that families can eat".
Sanchez, an avowed communist who has been mayor for 33 years and a member for the regional parliament of Andalusia for the United Left party (IU), did not take part but directed his "comrades" over a megaphone.
At one Carrefour supermarket on Tuesday, around a dozen trolleys were filled with staples such as milk, sugar, oil and pasta, before being taken through the checkout without payment. A similar looting in Ecija occurred later that day.
"There are people who simply don't have enough to eat," he said. "We've decided to expropriate basic foodstuffs and give them to the soup kitchens, which are struggling to provide for everyone because demand has increased."
Spain is grappling with austerity cuts and unemployment of nearly 25%.
Five people have been arrested for taking part in the raids but police have not arrested Mr Sanchez because of his position as regional MP. Instead, he has been asked to give a statement in front of an investigating magistrate.
Civil Guards moved in yesterday (Friday) to dismantle a protest camp on the grounds of an estate owned by the defence ministry where Sanchez was camping out with more than 100 members of the Andalusia Workers' Syndicate (SAT).
The protesters took over the finca of Las Turquillas, a farm near Osuna, two weeks ago, demanding a more equal distribution of land in Andalucia. Activists had taken over unused land and planted vegetables.
Sanchez labelled the dismantling of the camp as "heavy-handed".
His actions have led him to be called in the press "the Robin Hood of Spain" and "the revolutionary of Andalusia".
Marinaleda, a town of 3,000 residents, has attracted people from throughout Spain to join its farming co-operative and a municipal housing programme.
