Tens of Thousands Protest Across Spain After Housing Bills Fail
Demonstrations in about 50 cities after Congress rejects emergency decrees; clashes in Valencia
2 min read
File photo: Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Photo: Manuel M. Vicente, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tens of thousands of people protested across Spain on Saturday after Congress rejected two emergency housing decrees on Friday, deepening anger over soaring rents and home prices in roughly 50 cities, BBC and DW reported.
Madrid turnout and Valencia clashes
In Madrid, the Tenants’ Union claimed about 500,000 people joined the demonstration, while officials put the figure at around 70,000. Protesters had maintained an encampment at Puerta del Sol for days. In Valencia, clashes broke out near the City of Arts and Sciences during a real estate summit. Some protesters removed barriers and threw objects; police used rubber bullets and tear gas. RTVE reported nine officers injured and five people arrested. Dozens entered the City of Arts and Sciences before being ejected, according to DW.
What sparked the unrest
The protests were sparked by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal. The company Urbagestión later negotiated her return on a low rent, but demonstrations continued. On Friday, Congress rejected two emergency housing decrees by votes of 178–172 and 184–166. The failed measures included suspending evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030, two-year lease extensions, taxes on tourist apartments, restrictions on “vulture fund” purchases of residential property, and automatic rental contract renewal.
The conservative Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox opposed the bills. Opposition from JxCat doomed the measures in the minority PSOE-Sumar coalition’s vote. Speculation has grown that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez might call an early election — not due until next summer — though his office declined to comment, DW reported.
Voices from the streets
A Valencia Tenants’ Union spokesperson said: “There is a lot of anger in the streets.” Valeria Racu of the Tenants’ Union said: “What we are feeling in the streets is a new energy that we haven't seen in a long time, and energy that is showing that eight days of people's power can achieve more than eight years of progressive government.” Marcos Sainz, 26, spoke to AFP about rent pressures. Madrid’s Tenants’ Union said the rejection “exacerbates the housing crisis which is costing the working class their lives.”
The Bank of Spain estimates a shortfall of about 700,000 homes. Official INE data show house prices rose 12.2% over the past year through the second quarter of 2026, while Idealista reported rents up 8.5% in 2025.
