Police dismantle protest camp in Madrid, say authorities and activists

On Tuesday, Spanish police dismantled a large tent camp in Madrid that had been leading protests against the country's housing crisis for over a month, ultimately leading to early elections, according to police and activists. The camp encroached on Madrid's famous Puerta del Sol square, and officers cordoned off the area early Tuesday as municipal workers cleared away the debris, tents, and tarps.

The protest began in September after the eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner from her lifelong home sparked nationwide outrage over the soaring housing costs and lack of tenant protections. The Madrid camp grew into a sprawling network of tents and tarps, housing hundreds and featuring amenities like a canteen, clinic, and meeting spaces.

On Tuesday, the central government confirmed that the eviction occurred "without incident or episodes of violence," with 334 people removed and two arrests made. Firefighters, social services, and a force of 400 police officers participated in the operation. Protest organizers labeled the event a "violent police operation" that resulted in injuries from tear gas, while a 43-year-old homeless woman who joined the camp from the outset described police dragging residents out and forcibly taking belongings.

The socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government attempted to address the public discontent by proposing two housing decrees, including eviction curbs and automatic renewal of tenant contracts. However, the minority coalition government failed to pass the laws in parliament, prompting Sanchez to push forward an election scheduled for November 29, a date originally set for 2027.

The protests in Madrid heightened tensions between the leftist national government and conservative-run city and regional authorities, who criticized the demonstrators for damaging Madrid's reputation by occupying a central square typically filled with tourists and commuters. Spain's housing crisis has intensified in recent years, with rents in Madrid often consuming more than half of the average wage for modest households.

The Bank of Spain estimates the country of 50 million people is short of 700,000 homes, due to the shortage of public housing and rising demand fueled by tourism, population growth, and immigration, according to analysts.