Tens of thousands protest across Spain after parliament rejects housing decrees

Tens of thousands of people protested across Spain on Saturday to call for better tenant protections and affordable housing measures. According to the BBC and Al Jazeera, demonstrations took place in about 50 cities, including Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona, after the Spanish parliament rejected emergency housing legislation proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. [1][3]

The BBC and Al Jazeera both reported that lawmakers voted down two emergency decrees on Friday. The rejection of the measures deepened a days-long crisis and prompted protesters to call for a general strike, according to Al Jazeera. The BBC noted that clashes occurred between police and some demonstrators in Valencia, where a tenant union spokesperson described intense anger in the streets. [1][3]

The public outcry was sparked in part by the forcible eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, according to Sky News and the BBC. As FTMQ News reported earlier, hundreds of thousands of people marched in Madrid, where demonstrators previously set up a protest camp at the Puerta del Sol square. [1][4][12]

The demonstrations follow earlier protests in Spain against overtourism and rising living costs. Local governments and residents believe increased visitor numbers after the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a reduced quality of life and higher cost of living for local inhabitants. [10]