Spain sees massive protests after parliament rejects housing reform bills
Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Madrid and dozens of other Spanish cities on 23 September after the parliament rejected two emergency tenancy bills, demanding affordable housing and stronger tenant protections. The demonstrations, described as the largest since the 2020 housing crisis, intensified public pressure on lawmakers. The protests follow a wave of unrest that began earlier in September when an 87-year-old tenant was evicted from her long-standing flat in the Retiro district, prompting thousands to rally.
Al Jazeera reported that the property firm later agreed to restore the rent to its pre-dispute level, allowing the tenant to return. NPR said the cabinet subsequently unveiled a package of housing reforms aimed at strengthening tenant rights, a move that was met with further street action across the country.
