This is why Spain is threatening to slap protesters with 600,000 euro fines

Back in March, the conservative Spanish government passed a law sharply limiting the right of public protest. It is set to take effect tomorrow, and groups including Greenpeace are protesting in advance, calling it a "gag law."

The law prescribes, among other things, fines up to 600 euros for not notifying the authorities in advance about a protest, up to €30,000 for disturbing the peace around government buildings, and up to 600,000 euros for spontaneous demonstrations near certain infrastructure, such as power stations or transit hubs.

Human Rights Watch has denounced the measure as a clear infringement of the right of peaceable assembly and protest, and opposition parties have promised to repeal it if elected in elections later this year.

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