Tens of Thousands Protest in Spanish Cities Following Defeat of Housing Decrees
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Madrid and 50 other Spanish cities on Saturday to demand affordable housing after the country’s parliament rejected a package of tenant protection measures, The Guardian reported.
Parliamentary Defeat Triggers Political Turmoil and Snap Election Speculation
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s minority government faced a critical setback on Friday when lawmakers struck down the emergency housing legislation. The first decree failed by 178 votes to 172, while the second was defeated 184 to 166. Euronews.com reported that the measures required the support of the Catalan separatist party Junts, which ultimately opposed them on the grounds that they lacked rigour.
Following the parliamentary defeat, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the opposition Popular Party, urged Sánchez to call a general election as soon as possible, stating that the prime minister held the backing of neither the streets nor parliament after eight years in power, RTE.ie reported. Spanish media outlets indicated that Sánchez might announce a snap election for November depending on the strength of the weekend demonstrations.
Eviction of 87-Year-Old Maricarmen Abascal Sparks National Outrage
The legislative push and subsequent street protests were catalyzed by the late-September eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment of seven decades. Housing campaigners stated that an investment company acquired the property and attempted to raise her rent by 275%, forcing the wheelchair-user out on a stretcher. Following intense public backlash, the investment firm Urbagestión negotiated a deal allowing Abascal to return to the flat on a low rent, though public anger over runaway housing costs persisted.
Contrasting Responses From Political Parties and Housing Activists
The defeated government decrees aimed to address the severe supply-and-demand mismatch driving up living costs across Spain. Average rents have nearly doubled over the past decade, and asking prices for homes have risen by roughly 90%, according to real estate website Idealista data cited by RTE.ie. The rejected legislation sought to protect vulnerable tenants, penalize speculative investment firms known as vulture funds, and automatically renew expiring rental contracts.
The Tenants’ Union, which coordinated the protests alongside labor groups, condemned the political deadlock in a public statement. “There is an irreparable disconnect between what the people want and what the parties vote for,” the union said.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Housing Protests in Spain
What specific measures were included in the government decrees rejected by parliament?
The first decree proposed suspending evictions for vulnerable tenants until 2030, extending rental leases due to expire before 2028 by two years, raising taxes on tourist apartments, and restricting residential property purchases by investment funds. The second decree mandated the automatic renewal of rental contracts.
How did local authorities respond to the demonstrations across Spain?
While the vast majority of protests in 50 Spanish cities remained peaceful, clashes occurred in Valencia where police deployed rubber bullets and tear gas. Approximately 30 demonstrators managed to enter the City of Arts and Sciences before officers removed them.
What is the current status of Maricarmen Abascal, whose eviction sparked the crisis?
Following intense social backlash and negotiations with her landlord, Urbagestión, Abascal successfully returned to her Madrid apartment under a low-rent agreement after previously facing a rent hike exceeding 230%.
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