In brief
In a nationwide wave of civil disobedience, tens of thousands gathered in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona and other cities demanding stronger tenant protections after a failed parliamentary vote saved an elderly woman from eviction. The government’s emergency housing package – which paused evictions until 2030 and aimed to curb investment‑fund buying – was rejected by MPs, sparking accusations of hubris and potential early elections. Police clashes in Valencia left several officers wounded, while in Madrid demonstrators set up tents in the iconic Puerta del Sol, chanting slogans that won local support. Experts warn that the country’s housing shortage, combined with rising rents, could make many Spaniards homeless if reforms stall.
Spanish tenants and tenants’ unions staged vast demonstrations across the country on Saturday, calling for stronger legal protections after a Friday vote rejected emergency housing measures that would have paused evictions until 2030 and tackled high rents.
Around 50 marches turned into protests in major cities such as Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. In Valencia police and protesters clashed, leading to nine officers wounded and several arrests.
The calls for action were sparked by the eviction of 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal last month, whose case drew national attention and a flurry of media coverage. Her story highlighted the gap between Spain’s housing shortages and the rapid rise in property prices and rents.
The proposed package had two decrees: the first paused evictions for vulnerable tenants and extended rental leases; the second introduced automatic contract renewals. Both were voted down by a narrow margin (178‑172 and 184‑166), with opposition from the People’s Party, Vox and several Catalan nationalist groups.
Government opponents say the failure to adopt the package threatens to deepen the crisis. Tenants’ unions have called for a general strike and warned that the housing market’s imbalance could cost the working class their homes.
Statistical agencies report Spain is missing about 700,000 homes, while the price of a square metre in Madrid can exceed €23.80. Renter costs have surged 8.5% last year, with Madrid’s rent prices up 9.7% from the previous year.
- Eviction pause until 2030 for vulnerable tenants.
- Two‑year extension of arriving rental contracts.
- Tax hikes on tourist apartments.
- Restriction on investment‑fund purchases of residential property.
- Automatic renewal of rents.
Police and protesters in Valencia used rubber bullets after clashes over a real‑estate summit at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía. In Madrid, demonstrators set up tents in Puerta del Sol while chanting slogans like “We have the keys of the city” and demanding that rent rates be regulated.
The government now faces mounting pressure from the opposition and a volatile public. Analysts warn that any delay could trigger an early general election, further complicating the political landscape.
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