Hundreds of Thousands Demonstrate in Madrid Over Rejected Housing Decrees
Protesters in Madrid and other Spanish cities rallied against the parliament's rejection of two housing reforms, demanding stronger tenant protections and hinting at a possible general strike.
Around 500,000 demonstrators gathered in Madrid on Saturday, according to protest organizers, while police estimates placed the crowd at about 70,000. The march followed a parliamentary vote that rejected two government decrees intended to increase tenant protections. Participants camped for a week in the Puerta del Sol square and carried signs calling for a general strike and lower rents.
The protest remained peaceful in the capital, though a visible police presence was maintained. Antonio Garamendi, president of the employers' confederation CEOE, said he respects the demonstrations but warned that a general strike would be "illegal" and could prompt a response.
The Tenants' Union, which coordinated the rallies, issued a statement saying there is an "irreparable disconnect between what the people want and what the parties vote for." Its spokesperson, Valeria Racu, said the union is negotiating the timing of a general strike with other groups and aims for it to be "historic," though no date has been set.
Similar protests occurred in other cities. In Valencia, demonstrators marched toward the venue of the Valencia Real Estate Summit 2026, where former Citizens leader Albert Rivera was scheduled to speak. Police used rubber bullets and tear gas after some protesters removed barriers and threw objects. Demonstrations also took place in San Sebastián, Cádiz, Las Palmas, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Barcelona, and Teruel.
The rejected housing bills were opposed by the PP, Vox and UPN, while Junts abstained. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez concluded his speech with a warning that "history will judge you sooner than you think and more harshly than you imagine." He entered a period of reflection on whether to call early elections, a decision that rests with him. Opposition parties continue to call for elections, and some PSOE leaders have expressed support for that option.
Vice-President Yolanda Díaz blamed the eviction crisis on three political figures, naming Feijóo, Abascal and Nogueras. Meanwhile, the camp at Puerta del Sol entered its seventh night, housing roughly 2,000 people. The protests were sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, who was removed on a stretcher after a landlord sought to raise her rent by 275 %. The new owners later agreed to let her return at a low rent.