Tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid over the weekend to protest Spain’s worsening housing crisis, with hundreds establishing a growing encampment of tents in Puerta del Sol, a central square historically significant for activism. The protests come amid rising public frustration over soaring rents and home prices, which many say have reached unsustainable levels.
The escalation followed a widely televised eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman with a disability who was removed from her longtime home of seven decades. Footage showing her being carried out on a stretcher, flanked by both protesters and police, intensified public anger and underscored alarm over housing speculation. Campaigners seized on her case as emblematic of a broader systemic issue. Abascal’s legal representatives later reported reaching a deal that could allow her to return home, with hopes that the resolution might signal a shift in housing policies.
Housing costs in Spain have increased sharply over the past decade, with rents rising by roughly 80% and property prices climbing 63%, far outpacing wage growth. According to Spain’s central bank, the country faces a deficit of approximately 750,000 homes. Protesters argue that the increasing financial burden on tenants is forcing many to postpone life plans and compromising mental health, particularly among younger generations.
The encampment in Puerta del Sol, which began with around ten tents, had expanded to more than 300 by Sunday. Some observers drew parallels to the 2011 Indignados movement, which occupied the same plaza for a month and catalyzed significant political shifts. Activists involved in the current protests, however, emphasized a more targeted agenda focused on housing reform. An informal slogan circulating among demonstrators declared: “Either the rentier economy falls, or the government does,” reflecting demands for urgent government action.
Protesters have detailed specific requests, including measures to halt evictions and regulate short-term rentals, pressing the government for comprehensive reforms. The Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, acknowledged the crisis and stated that his administration was “working around the clock” to introduce a royal decree on housing expected to be presented in parliament by Tuesday.
The protests have exposed tensions within Spain’s political landscape. While Sánchez’s coalition includes leftwing parties that have long advocated for housing reform, the fragmented parliament poses challenges to passing substantive legislation. Moreover, the central government has criticized the centre-right regional administration for failing to prevent evictions like Abascal’s.
Demonstrations have spread beyond Madrid, with significant actions in Barcelona, where protesters blocked main thoroughfares and voiced similar demands. The movement has attracted diverse supporters, including public figures such as filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, who described the housing crisis as “paralysing Spanish life.”
As the deadline for government action approaches, protesters in Madrid and across Spain express determination to continue their campaign if proposed measures prove insufficient, signaling a critical juncture in the country’s approach to its persistent housing challenges.