Protests over housing flare in Spain after relief measures rejected

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Madrid and various other Spanish cities on Saturday, demanding affordable housing following the rejection of relief measures proposed by the Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The demonstrations were sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner, Maricarmen Abascal, from her Madrid flat last month.

The defeat was a significant setback for the minority government and raised doubts about its ability to survive until the next general election in 2027. The rejected measures aimed to automatically renew tenancy contracts and restrict evictions of vulnerable tenants. The protests gained momentum as authorities reported 70,000 participants, while organizers claimed over 500,000.

In Valencia, clashes with police resulted in five arrests. The protesters, including a 26-year-old librarian, voiced their struggle with soaring rental prices, which often exceed the median monthly salary in the capital. Valeria Racu, a spokesperson for the Tenants Union, emphasized the effectiveness of collective action and called for a general strike.

The Catalan separatist party Junts, which supports Sanchez, joined the opposition parties in rejecting the housing bills, citing a lack of rigor. The housing crisis has long been a pressing concern in Spain, with rents nearly doubling over the past decade and home prices increasing by about 90%.