Protests over housing flare in Spain after relief measures rejected
Spain housing protests swell after lawmakers reject tenant relief, with 70,000 to 500,000 marching as anger over soaring rents deepens.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Spain's capital Madrid and other cities on Saturday, demanding affordable housing after lawmakers rejected tenant relief measures. The demonstrations came a day after an 87-year-old pensioner was evicted from her home in Madrid, sparking outrage over soaring rents. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority government faced a setback, with opposition parties voting down his proposed measures that included automatic renewal of tenancy contracts and restrictions on evicting vulnerable tenants.
The protests followed the occupation of a tent city in Madrid for a week, with hundreds of protesters demanding reforms. Authorities reported 70,000 participants, while organizers claimed 500,000, while smaller demonstrations were held in other Spanish cities.
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