‘No peace for rentism’: Mass protests sweep Spain over housing crisis

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Spain on Saturday, demanding lower rents, stronger tenant protections and an end to evictions after the government suffered a setback on emergency housing measures in parliament.About 50 demonstrations were held in cities including Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, with protesters accusing the government of failing to tackle soaring rents and a shortage of affordable homes.In Madrid, the capital's Tenants' Union estimated that around 500,000 people joined the protest, while government officials put the turnout at about 70,000. Demonstrators chanted slogans including "We have the keys of all the city" and carried banners such as "There won't be peace for rentism."Housing vote defeat fuels protestsThe protests followed the rejection of two government-backed housing decrees in Congress on Friday. The measures included suspending evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030, extending rental leases, increasing taxes on tourist apartments and restricting purchases of residential properties by investment funds.The first decree was defeated 178-172, while the second was rejected 184-166. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's minority coalition does not have a parliamentary majority and failed to secure enough support from smaller regional parties.The defeat has also fuelled speculation that Sánchez could call an early general election, although elections are not due until next summer.The latest wave of protests was triggered by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal after she was unable to afford a sharp rent increase. Her case prompted nationwide outrage, and the company owning her flat later agreed to allow her to return at a lower rent.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.