Protesters camp in Madrid in demonstration against Spain' housing crisis

On Sunday, around 150 tents were set up in Madrid's Puente del Sol square, marking the expansion of an encampment that had started with approximately 100 tents the previous day. The camp grew following a demonstration over Spain's housing crisis, which concluded early Saturday morning. Those who had gathered slept on yoga mats, sleeping bags, and directly on the ground, maintaining a calm atmosphere with adequate supplies of food and water.

The initiative was organized by the Madrid Tenants' Union, which urged people to camp out in Sol after Saturday's march. Protesters chanted slogans such as "Sí se puede" ("Yes, we can") and "Where is the progressive government?" demanding structural changes to treat housing as a basic necessity rather than a financial asset. The movement's slogan, "Not one more Maricarmen," referenced the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, who was forced to leave her home after living there for 70 years.

The protest, which drew around 25,000 people according to the Government Delegation, called for a housing decree to be approved on Tuesday, including measures such as a freeze on rents. The Tenants' Union warned that if the decree was not approved, the government's left-wing partners may withdraw their support, potentially leading to the government's collapse.

Podemos founder Pablo Iglesias drew parallels between the current situation and the 15-M movement, hoping for nationwide spread of the movement. However, divisions within the left-wing bloc complicated the situation, with some party members rejecting negotiations with the governing party and calling for the expropriation of homes owned by vulture funds to create social rental housing.