Fresh protests to hit Spain after housing measures defeated

Protests are expected to occur across Spain on Saturday, following the rejection of two government measures aimed at bolstering tenant protections. The measures were defeated in parliament just a day after nationwide demonstrations, including the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her residence in Madrid. This setback further complicates the situation for Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who faces questions about the stability of his minority government until the next general election in 2027.

Catalan separatist party Junts, which was crucial in approving the measures, voted against them, citing their lack of rigor. The leader of the main opposition, the conservative Popular Party (PP), Alberto Nunez Feijoo, called for Sánchez to call for early elections. Recent polls suggest the opposition PP holds a slight lead over the Socialists.

The Tenants Union, coordinating the protests, has urged demonstrations in over 50 cities on Saturday. Madrid's Puerta del Sol has become a focal point, with activists and protesters camped out for a week. Demonstrations will begin from various locations around the city before converging at Plaza de Cibeles in central Madrid.

The defeated measures included automatic renewal of rental contracts upon expiration and restrictions on evictions of vulnerable tenants. They also targeted "vulture funds," investment firms acquiring properties for profit. Spain's housing crisis has been a long-standing concern, with supply struggling to meet demand, leading to soaring rents and property prices.

Average rents have nearly doubled over the past decade, while home prices have increased by about 90 percent. The eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, who had lived in the same Madrid apartment for seven decades, sparked outrage over the excessive rent increases demanded by new owners.