Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona on Saturday, demanding action over Spain’s worsening housing crisis. About 50 planned demonstrations took place across the country, with demonstrators expressing frustration over rising rents and the recent eviction of an elderly woman that sparked the movement.
The protests come as Spain’s Socialist-led government faces a political setback. Its two housing decrees, designed to protect tenants and regulate the rental market, were rejected in parliament. The first decree failed by 178 votes to 172, and the second went down 184 to 166. Both were opposed by the far-right Vox party and the centre-right PP, while the nationalist parties JxCat and the Basque Nationalists signalled their own opposition, condemning the proposals to failure.
The Numbers Behind the Anger
The scale of the problem is stark. The Bank of Spain estimates a 700,000-home shortfall in the Spanish housing market. House prices rose 12.2% in the past year, and rental costs rose 8.5% in 2025. Madrid saw a 9.7% rent increase, making it one of the most expensive cities to live in.
Barcelona and Madrid were Spain’s most expensive cities to rent at €23.80 and €22.70 per square metre respectively. For many Spaniards, the cost of living has simply outpaced their income.
The protests have been ongoing for days, with demonstrators camping in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square. One protester, David, told RTVE: “We’re not here for pleasure or comfort. We’re here out of conviction.”
What the Decrees Tried to Do
The government’s two decrees covered different ground. The first included:
- Suspension of evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030
- A two-year lease extension for existing contracts
- Tax hikes for tourist apartments
- Restrictions on vulture funds buying property
The second decree focused on automatic renewal of rental contracts. Together, the measures were meant to address the twin problems of affordability and insecurity for renters.
Why the Legislation Failed
The government’s coalition does not hold a majority in parliament. To pass the decrees, it needed support from nationalist parties in Catalonia and the Basque Country. Those parties turned against the bills, leaving the legislation dead on arrival.
The vote counts tell the story. The first decree failed by 178 votes to 172, and the second went down 184 to 166. PP and Vox voted against both initiatives. JxCat signalled opposition to both laws, condemning them to failure.
The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal last month sparked the protests. Her flat owner, Urbagestión, negotiated her return on a low rent. Despite that agreement, protests continue.
The Human Cost of the Crisis
The eviction of Maricarmen Abascal has become the face of the movement. She is 87 years old, and her case galvanized tenants across the country. Protesters argue that the government’s failure to protect vulnerable tenants exacerbates the housing crisis, which they say is costing the working class their lives.
A spokesperson for the Valencia Tenants’ Union said: “There is a lot of anger in the streets.” That anger was on display in Valencia, where clashes broke out between some protesters and police near Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía. Protesters removed barriers and threw objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets.
The scenes in Valencia showed the tension between the movement and the authorities. In Madrid, the numbers were larger but the mood was still tense. Estimates of Madrid’s demonstration size ranged from 500,000 by the city’s Tenants’ Union to 70,000 by government officials.
What Happens Next
The government now faces a choice. It can try to build a new coalition, though that would likely involve concessions to nationalist parties. Or it can push ahead with other measures, possibly through a general strike call made by Madrid’s Tenants’ Union.
The union has already called for a general strike over the housing crisis. Whether that call gains traction remains to be seen.
The protests are unlikely to fade quickly. The housing shortfall is structural, and the government’s coalition lacks the numbers to impose its will. Until that changes, the streets are likely to remain full of angry tenants.
The eviction of Maricarmen Abascal has become the face of the movement. She is 87 years old, and her case galvanized tenants across the country. Protesters argue that the government’s failure to protect vulnerable tenants exacerbates the housing crisis, which they say is costing the working class their lives.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs free speech for protesters in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona and is against any attempt by the government or platforms to decide what may be said at their demonstrations. The paper opposes the government or a dominant platform deciding what may be said, and backs whoever is defending the right to speak.
In Valencia, protesters clashed with police, removing barriers and throwing objects at officers, who responded with rubber bullets. The paper opposes the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, regardless of how it is described. The paper supports the protesters’ right to express their frustration over rising rents and the eviction of an elderly woman that sparked the movement.
The paper wants to see the government listen to the people in the streets rather than trying to silence them. It wants to see a genuine response to the housing crisis, not just rhetoric. The reader should watch for any attempts by the government or platforms to control the narrative around these protests, and for any concessions that might come at the expense of individual rights.
Source material: “Protesters across Spain demand action over housing crisis,” the BBC.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.