Spain’s capital swelled with protestors in an unprecedented display of citizen anger.
North‑west Spain’s biggest city registered an estimated 500,000 marchers, a figure that dwarfed the government’s estimate of 70,000. The rally was part of a nationwide wave that saw around 50 marches across Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and smaller towns.
The protests were ignited by the eviction of 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal, who could not afford a steep rent increase. Her case, highlighted by court‑ordered support from the property firm Urbagestión, became a rallying point for tenants demanding rent caps and eviction bans.
In Valencia, demonstrators encircled the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, a venue hosting a real‑estate summit, and engaged in a violent standoff with police. Ten police officers were reported injured, and five protestors were arrested after rubber pellets were fired.
The government’s emergency housing measures, introduced on Friday, comprised two decrees: a suspension of evictions until 2030, a two‑year extension to leases, higher taxes on tourist apartments, and restrictions on “vulture funds” purchasing residential property. A second decree promised automatic renewal of rental contracts.
Both decrees were narrowly defeated in congress, with the ruling Socialist Party relying on the support of smaller nationalist parties. The vote left Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in a precarious position and has led many observers to speculate on an early general election, which is now scheduled for next summer.
Economic data underscores the urgency of the crisis. The Bank of Spain reports a deficit of 700,000 homes, while Madrid’s rents have climbed 9.7% in the last year, offsetting the city’s status as one of Spain’s most expensive rental markets.
Photo: EPA
The protests have turned into a longer‑term occupation in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where tens of thousands have set up tents and blockaded traffic for days. Protest slogans include “There won’t be peace for rent‑ism” and “We hold the keys to the city.”
As the political stalemate continues, analysts warn that without substantive policy changes the unrest could spread further, threatening to destabilise the government’s fragile coalition.
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