Tens of thousands protest in Spain over housing crisis

Tens of thousands of people gathered in cities across Spain on Saturday to protest against the country’s mounting housing crisis. The demonstrations were sparked by the recent eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, an event that intensified public anger and prompted calls for a general strike. While authorities estimated the total turnout at 70,000 people, organizers claimed the number of participants reached 500,000.

The protests followed the failure of the government to pass emergency housing legislation in parliament on Friday. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had proposed a package of measures intended to address the crisis, including a ban on the eviction of vulnerable tenants until 2030, a two-year extension on rent freezes for existing leases, and stricter regulations for short-term rentals. The opposition rejected these proposals, arguing that the measures would ultimately reduce housing supply and worsen the situation.

Demonstrations took place in approximately 50 cities throughout the country. While the majority of these events remained peaceful, clashes occurred in the southeastern city of Valencia. In that location, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds after about 30 protesters entered the City of Arts and Sciences, a landmark cultural building, before being removed by authorities.

Following the defeat of the housing legislation, reports emerged in Spanish media suggesting that Prime Minister Sánchez may call a snap election for November. It is reported that the government is monitoring the scale and intensity of the weekend’s protests to inform a final decision on whether to trigger an early vote. The Prime Minister’s office has declined to comment on these reports.

Participants at the protests expressed deep frustration with the political process. Many demonstrators carried signs calling for a general strike, reflecting a broader sentiment that political parties are failing to address the needs of the public. As one 26-year-old protester in Madrid noted, the current situation highlights a disconnect where citizens are forced to adapt to political agendas rather than seeing their own needs reflected in government policy.