Housing protesters dig in for long stay in Madrid square
After spending his first night in a tent in central Madrid, David Muller-Plantenberg said he would remain there as long as needed to press the government to tackle Spain’s housing crisis.
Around 150 tents have been pitched in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square as protesters gather to demand action from the government on Spain's housing crisis. The encampment grew overnight, with some protesters sleeping on yoga mats, in sleeping bags, or directly on the ground.
The protest was sparked by the eviction of an elderly woman, Maricarmen, who was forced out of her lifelong home after her rent nearly quadrupled, according to France 24. Many Spaniards say rising rents, partly driven by tourism, are making cities increasingly unaffordable.
Protesters, including David Muller-Plantenberg, plan to remain in the square for as long as needed to press the government to tackle the issue. The protesters have described a calm atmosphere, with stocks of food and water to sustain the protest over the coming days, and police have kept a watchful presence without incident, as reported by Euronews.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Local Spain, Euronews, France 24 — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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