Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across Spain on Saturday to demand action on the country's housing crisis after the government failed to pass emergency legislation in parliament.
Key facts
- Tens of thousands protested in Madrid and other Spanish cities on Saturday.
- More than 50 protests took place across the country, according to the BBC.
- Protests followed parliament's rejection of government housing measures on Friday.
- Anger was fuelled by the forcible eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal.
- Some demonstrators called for a general strike.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities on Saturday to demand action on a mounting housing crisis, after government measures to address the issue were struck down in parliament.
According to the Guardian, demonstrators waved posters calling for a general strike. The measures had been drawn up to address mass anger over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, along with other housing issues, but were rejected by the opposition on Friday.
Sky News reported that the protests came in the wake of the forcible eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, which has become a focal point for public frustration over housing in Spain.
The BBC reported that more than 50 protests were taking place on Saturday after the government failed to get emergency legislation through parliament.
Al Jazeera described the latest demonstrations as deepening a days-long crisis after parliament struck down two affordable housing decrees.
The scale of the protests, spread across dozens of cities, underscores the depth of public anger over housing affordability and the political deadlock following the failure of the government’s proposed reforms.
Why it matters
Housing affordability has become one of the most pressing social issues in Spain, and the failure of emergency legislation has left the government without a clear response. The wave of nationwide protests signals growing public pressure that could shape the political agenda in the days ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Why are people protesting in Spain?
Demonstrators are demanding action on the country's housing crisis after the government failed to pass emergency housing legislation in parliament, with anger intensified by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid.
What happened to the housing legislation?
According to the sources, government measures to tackle housing issues were rejected by the opposition in parliament on Friday. Al Jazeera reported that parliament struck down two affordable housing decrees.
Who is Maricarmen Abascal?
Maricarmen Abascal is an 87-year-old woman whose forcible eviction, as reported by Sky News, helped trigger the wave of protests over Spain's housing crisis.