Spain rallies press housing demands after parliament rejects tenant relief
Demonstrators called for affordable housing reforms and a general strike after MPs rejected two decrees proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.
Tens of thousands of people rallied in Madrid and about 50 other Spanish cities on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera, demanding affordable housing measures after parliament rejected two government decrees the previous day.
The proposals included protections against evicting vulnerable tenants and automatic lease renewals. The votes were defeated after the Catalan separatist party Junts joined the Popular Party and Vox in opposing them.
The demonstrations followed more than a week of protests sparked by an attempted eviction of an 87-year-old pensioner from her Madrid home. The property owner reportedly reversed the eviction.
Most rallies were reported as peaceful. In Valencia, police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, Al Jazeera reported. About 30 protesters entered the City of Arts and Sciences before police removed them.
A spokesperson for the Tenants’ Union said the rallies showed renewed energy for the movement. The protests add public pressure for housing measures, while the government’s next steps remain unclear.
