Tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid and camped in the Puerta del Sol plaza to protest Spain's acute housing crisis. The protests were sparked by the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old pensioner who was removed from the home she had lived in for 70 years after her rent was hiked by 275%. Tenants' advocates described the resulting public outcry as an unstoppable wave of anger.
In response to the growing pressure, Spain’s Socialist Workers’ party-led coalition government has approved two decrees aimed at easing the housing crisis and providing tenants with greater legal protection. These measures include extending the ban on evictions of vulnerable people until 2030. Cabinet ministers stated they have reached a consensus on these new measures to curb the crisis and protect renters.
However, the government faces an uphill battle to secure support for these reforms in a fragmented Parliament where the coalition lacks a majority. The decrees still require approval in Congress, and the government has requested a special parliamentary session on Friday in hopes of passing the legislation as soon as possible.