Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities on Saturday to protest the escalating housing crisis following the rejection of new government eviction and rental regulation measures by parliament. Authorities estimated around 70,000 participants in Madrid alone, while organizers claimed the number reached as high as 500,000 nationwide.
The demonstrations came in response to legislative decrees presented by the Socialist-led coalition, which included eviction bans until 2030 and tighter regulation on short-term and room rentals. Despite public outcry sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home of 70 years over a 230% rent hike, the decrees failed to pass due to opposition from the conservative People’s Party, far-right Vox, and the pro-independence party Junts.
Strong Public Outcry Despite Parliamentary Setback
Protesters voiced frustration over what they see as politicians prioritizing interests other than the public’s needs. One Madrid protester, 26-year-old Nando de Anguulo, said the situation illustrates “it is us, the people, who have to adapt to political parties, not the politicians to what the people want.” Many urged for rent regulation to prevent displacement caused by skyrocketing housing costs.
Marcos Sainz, a librarian from Madrid, recounted how a two-bedroom rental that was once 900 euros a month is now surpassed by the cost of a single-bedroom unit exceeding 1,000 euros, nearly half the city’s median salary. “I will protest rental hikes until someone steps up to regulate, because otherwise, we all will have to leave Madrid,” he said.
Protests Remain Mostly Peaceful With Some Clashes
Saturday’s demonstrations were reported as peaceful in about 50 cities. However, in Valencia, confrontations occurred as police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protestors who briefly occupied the City of Arts and Sciences cultural complex.
Authorities also stopped far-right groups in Madrid trying to infiltrate the protest camp, resulting in several arrests. The far-right actions included gestures such as Nazi salutes, which were condemned by police efforts to maintain order during the day’s events.
Political Implications and Possible Snap Election
Spanish media reported that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez might call a snap election in November depending on the momentum generated by the protests and the legislative setback. The housing crisis and public dissent have shifted national focus away from other ongoing issues like the impact of recent events in Ceuta.
The People’s Party argued that increasing housing affordability requires more construction rather than regulatory decrees. Lawmaker Juan Bravo stated, “Housing doesn’t become more affordable through decrees; it becomes more affordable by building more homes.” Meanwhile, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Your profits, our misery,” highlighting the deep social tensions surrounding housing in Spain.
