Tens of thousands protest across Spain over affordable housing crisis

Tens of thousands of people gathered to protest in cities across Spain on Saturday, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera and Sky News. The BBC reported that more than 50 protests took place nationwide. Al Jazeera stated that demonstrators in the capital, Madrid, and about 50 other cities called for a general strike and housing market reforms. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

The demonstrations occurred after the Spanish parliament voted down two emergency decrees proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday, Al Jazeera reported. The rejected legislation was intended to serve as an emergency relief package for tenants facing high housing costs. [2]

Sky News reported that the protests also followed the recent forcible eviction of an 87 year old woman named Maricarmen Abascal. [3][4]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, parliament voted down the decrees on Friday following weeks of public anger, with demonstrations previously taking place in cities including Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. Overtourism in parts of Spain has previously contributed to an increased cost of living for residents. [8][10][11]