Housing crisis fuels Madrid protest

Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid over the weekend, calling for greater protection for tenants. The demonstration was sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her lifelong home after her rent nearly quadrupled. According to France 24, her case has resonated with many Spaniards who say rising rents, partly driven by tourism, are making cities increasingly unaffordable.

The protest, which took place on Saturday, drew a crowd of around 25,000 people, according to government authorities, while the Madrid Tenants Union put the number at over 300,000. After the demonstration, protesters set up a camp in Puerta del Sol, with around 100 to 150 tents pitched across the square, as reported by Euronews and Gulf News. The campers, who spent the night on yoga mats, in sleeping bags, and on the ground, planned to stay for several days.

The protesters are demanding better protections for tenants, citing longstanding concerns over rising housing costs in Madrid and other Spanish cities. According to Gulf News, rental prices in the capital have notably doubled over the past few years. The protest camp, which was organised by the Madrid Tenants Union, was still ongoing on Sunday, with protesters vowing to stay "as long as necessary", as quoted by Gulf News.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Euronews, Gulf News, The Local Spain — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.