Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Spain to demand affordable housing and stronger protection for tenants, a day after parliament rejected two government measures aimed at addressing the country’s housing crisis.
Demonstrations were held in Madrid and around 50 other cities on Saturday, October 3, with protesters calling for political action, a general strike and reforms to tackle soaring rents and evictions.
The protests followed Friday’s rejection of two housing decrees proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s minority left-wing government. The measures were intended to strengthen protections for tenants and provide emergency relief amid rising housing costs.
In Madrid, protesters carried banners reading “Houses to live in, a planet to inhabit” and “The right to a roof”. The demonstrations were driven in part by the recent eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner from her home in the capital, which sparked a wider protest movement.
In Valencia, police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators after about 30 protesters entered the City of Arts and Sciences. Police later removed them from the building.
Most demonstrations in other cities remained peaceful.
The rejection of the housing measures has increased pressure on Sánchez, whose coalition government includes his Socialist Party and the left-wing Sumar party.
The decrees were defeated after the Catalan separatist party Junts voted against them, joining the opposition Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo called on Sánchez to hold elections “as soon as possible”, arguing that the prime minister no longer had the support of parliament or protesters.
Sánchez’s office has not commented on reports that the strength of Saturday’s demonstrations could influence his decision on whether to call an early election.
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