Tens of thousands of people across Spain took to the streets over the weekend to protest the country’s escalating housing crisis, which has intensified following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her longtime home in central Madrid. The demonstrations, encompassing cities such as Madrid, Valencia, Seville, and Barcelona, highlight widespread public frustration over rising rents, limited affordable housing, and perceived government inaction.
The protests erupted after María del Carmen Abascal was forced out of her apartment, where she had lived for more than 70 years, amid a rent increase from €500 to €2,650. This eviction galvanized public outrage, with many viewing it as emblematic of broader systemic issues affecting Spain’s housing market. Demonstrators included a diverse mix of students, elderly residents, and families, who highlighted the growing difficulty of securing affordable and stable housing.
In Madrid, around 1,000 protesters have maintained a continuous encampment at Puerta del Sol for over a week, while similar gatherings emerged in Barcelona’s Plaza Catalunya. On Saturday, crowds in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles and other public spaces demanded government intervention, including rent controls, eviction protections, and increased social housing. Valencia saw clashes between police and protesters near the City of Arts and Sciences, where a real estate summit was taking place. Law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons to disperse demonstrators who breached security perimeters, with no immediate reports of injuries.
The unrest follows the recent parliamentary rejection of two emergency housing measures proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s left-leaning government. These measures sought to limit evictions, curb property speculation, and extend tenant protections such as indefinite lease renewals. However, opposition parties including the conservative Partido Popular (PP), the far-right Vox party, and Catalan separatist party Junts per Catalunya voted against the legislation, arguing the proposals would inadequately address the crisis and could discourage private landlords.
The government’s failure to pass the housing bills has plunged Sánchez’s minority administration into deeper political uncertainty less than a year ahead of national elections. The prime minister announced a weekend of reflection to consider calling a snap election, which analysts predict he would likely lose given the current political climate. Despite the setbacks, polling indicates strong public support for measures aimed at controlling housing costs, with many voters including some PP and Vox supporters backing rent regulation efforts.
Critics of the proposed controls, notably from the PP and Vox, claim that rent caps incentivize landlords to shift properties toward short-term tourist rentals, exacerbating shortages in the long-term rental market. Both parties have instead advocated for alternative strategies, such as prioritizing Spanish citizens for social housing and releasing public land to private developers for new construction.
Spain’s housing shortage is severe, with about 3.4 percent of its housing stock classified as social housing—well below the European average—and a deficit estimated at 750,000 units. Annual new construction falls far short of targets needed to alleviate demand pressures. The crisis is particularly acute for younger people and low-income households, many of whom are increasingly priced out of both the purchase and rental markets.
As public protests continue and political tensions rise, Sánchez faces a critical decision on whether to seek an early election or attempt to govern without new legislation on housing. With his administration weakened by prior corruption scandals and other crises, the housing issue has emerged as a defining challenge for the prime minister’s future and Spain’s broader political landscape.