Demonstrators across Spain took to the streets to demand affordable housing. These protests occurred after the Spanish parliament recently rejected two emergency bills aimed at supporting tenants and preventing evictions by a narrow majority.
Background of the Protests
The protests on Saturday were part of a week-long wave of demonstrations that began following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman named María Carmen Abascal in Madrid. One 26-year-old protester in Madrid told reporters, "This just shows that we, the people, must adapt ourselves to political parties and not politicians to what the people want. This situation cannot continue."
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Scale of the Protests
According to reports, around 70,000 people participated in the protests in Madrid, while organizers estimated the number to be close to 500,000. Similar protests were held in about 50 other cities. In Valencia, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. Some protesters managed to enter the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia — one of the city's main landmarks — before being quickly removed by police.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's emergency proposals included automatic extensions of rental contracts and restrictions on evictions of vulnerable tenants. However, these bills were rejected by opposition parties on Friday, sparking anger among protesters who have been demonstrating against the country's unaffordable housing market for weeks.
Reactions to the Rejection of the Bills
Another 31-year-old protester in Madrid told Agence France-Presse, "We are demanding a fundamental right: adequate housing, stability, and conditions that allow us to build a decent life project." Spanish media reports suggest that Sánchez may be seeking to hold early elections in November, as these bills have failed to pass. Additionally, the government is set to closely monitor Saturday's protests before making any further decisions.
Sánchez's office declined to comment on these reports. The recent protests reflect a growing dissatisfaction in Spanish society regarding the critical state of the housing market, which has become unbearable for many people.
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