Tens of Thousands Protest Across Spain as Housing Crisis Fuels Public Anger
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Spain on Saturday to demand action over the country's worsening housing crisis, with major demonstrations taking place in Madrid and dozens of other cities.
The protests came a day after Spain's parliament rejected two government measures designed to strengthen protections for tenants and address rising housing costs.
In Madrid, government authorities estimated that around 70,000 people participated in the demonstration. Organisers gave a substantially higher estimate. Protests were also held in more than 50 Spanish cities, according to reports.
Housing Costs at the Centre of PDemonstrators called for more affordable housing, stronger protection for renters and measures to prevent evictions.rotests.
The latest wave of protests intensified after the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, María del Carmen Abascal, from her Madrid apartment. Her case became a focus of public anger over rising rents and the difficulties faced by long-term tenants.
Abascal had lived in the apartment for decades. Her eviction in September triggered demonstrations and a continuing public campaign over housing rights.
Parliament Rejects Government Housing Measures
Spain's parliament rejected two government decrees on Friday aimed at addressing the housing affordability crisis.
The proposed measures included stronger protections for vulnerable tenants, restrictions on some short-term rental practices and measures intended to make evictions more difficult. Another proposal sought to strengthen rental-contract protections.
The measures failed to secure enough support in the 350-seat lower house. Opposition parties argued that some of the proposals could reduce the supply of rental properties and potentially push prices higher.
The parliamentary defeat added to pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's minority government as housing remains one of the country's most contentious domestic issues.
Calls for a General Strike
Some protesters in Madrid carried banners calling for a general strike over housing conditions.
The Tenants' Union has said it is considering a wider strike in coordination with labour unions, although no nationwide general strike has been announced as part of Saturday's demonstrations.
The demonstrations were largely peaceful across the country.
However, in Valencia, clashes were reported between protesters and police. Authorities used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, while a group of protesters briefly entered the City of Arts and Sciences before being removed.
Barcelona Protests Cancelled
Protests had also been planned in Barcelona and nearby L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, but those demonstrations were cancelled because of heavy rain.
Elsewhere, housing demonstrations took place across more than 50 cities, reflecting the geographical spread of concerns over rents, home prices and access to affordable accommodation.
Political Pressure on Sánchez Government
The housing protests have created additional political pressure on Sánchez's government following the defeat of its housing decrees.
Spanish media have reported that Sánchez could consider an early election in November, although his office has not confirmed those reports.
For now, the government's immediate challenge is to respond to growing public demands for affordable housing while attempting to find parliamentary support for new measures.
The scale of Saturday's demonstrations has put housing policy at the centre of Spain's political debate, with protesters demanding action on rents, evictions and the availability of affordable homes.
Source a ttribution: Reuters, Associated Press, Spanish government/official estimates and other international reporting.