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Spain: Thousands protest in Madrid against housing crisis
DW.com • • world
Key Points:
- Tens of thousands protested in central Madrid against Spain's housing crisis, demanding better tenant protections, anti-fraud measures, and a ban on evictions without alternative housing.
- The demonstration was sparked by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who lived in her apartment for seven decades before an investment fund raised her rent beyond affordability.
- Rising rental prices, gentrification, and a shortage of affordable housing, worsened by tourism and population growth, are fueling public discontent ahead of Spain's general election next year.
- Protesters camped out in Puerta del Sol square after the rally, with some setting up tents despite police presence, highlighting ongoing tensions over housing issues.
- Abascal's case has become a symbol of the crisis, illustrating the impact of investment funds buying homes and evicting long-term tenants, which many protesters deem unacceptable.
