MADRID—Demonstrators set up about 100 tents in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square on Monday, pledging to continue their protests against Spain's housing crisis. The camp followed a mass demonstration on Saturday, where tens of thousands took to the streets of the capital to demand government action on rising housing costs and tenant protection.
The protest movement intensified after the police eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment last Wednesday. Abascal, who had lived in the residence for 70 years, was hospitalized after the eviction and has since become a central figure in the movement.
A real estate firm acquired Abascal's property and subsequently increased her rent by 275 percent, raising it to 2,650 euros, according to the Madrid Tenants' Union. Police forcibly removed Abascal from her home, carrying her out on a stretcher after breaking down her door.
Images of Abascal's eviction sparked widespread outrage across Spain. The incident brought the country's housing crisis to the forefront of public discussion as national elections approach next year. "I'm asking you all to be courageous, to fight, to defend what belongs to us," Abascal said in a video shared by the Madrid Tenants' Union.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has faced criticism, even from within his own political party, for failing to control housing prices since assuming power in 2018. The escalating crisis has put his government under renewed scrutiny.
Sánchez is scheduled to present a new housing bill to parliament on Tuesday. The proposed legislation is expected to include measures such as the automatic renewal of rental contracts and additional restrictions on evictions, aiming to address some of the protesters' core demands.
However, the approval of Sánchez's bill remains uncertain, as his party lacks a majority in Spain's parliament. A similar housing bill introduced by his government was defeated earlier this year, highlighting political challenges. Carlota, a 29-year-old protester camping in Puerta del Sol, said, "We are demanding that this decree-law be enacted, to protect the right to housing and prevent evictions." She added that the country faced a "serious situation" and called for "an end to putting capital and investment funds before people."
Spain's housing market has seen price increases over the past decade. The average rental price per square meter has nearly doubled, reaching 15.10 euros in August, according to real estate portal Idealista. For buyers, the average price now stands at 2,355 euros per square meter, an increase of more than 50 percent over the same period, based on official figures.
Beatriz Blanco, 37, a self-employed demonstrator, recounted a similar experience within her own circle. She told AFP that a friend's 65-year-old mother had to move back in with her daughter because she could no longer afford her increased rent. Blanco described property prices across Spain as "completely insane" and indicated her willingness to remain in the protest camp for "at least another night."
Prime Minister Sánchez was also scheduled to visit a social housing scheme in Barcelona on Monday afternoon, highlighting the government's efforts to address housing challenges during the ongoing protests.
