Thousands of people rallied in central Madrid on Sunday to protest spiraling housing costs that have priced many Spaniards out of the market. This crisis persists despite a recent economic boom, particularly in major cities such as the capital and Barcelona.
Housing has long ranked among the top concerns for voters in Spain. Demand has increased due to immigration-driven population growth and tourism, while the central bank reported a deficit of 700,000 homes between 2021 and 2025.
Housing costs rose by 13% last year, prompting Prime Minister Sánchez to propose a 7 billion euro solution. However, his rent-freeze bill recently died in Parliament.