Spain is bracing for fresh waves of protests after parliament rejected a package of housing measures aimed at protecting vulnerable tenants. Demonstrations are set to intensify in Madrid and other cities, following Friday’s vote that struck down proposals to automatically renew rental contracts and restrict evictions.
The government introduced the measures in response to nationwide outrage after the eviction of 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal, who was carried out on a stretcher from her Madrid apartment she had lived in for nearly seven decades. The incident became a symbol of Spain’s deepening housing crisis and sparked calls for urgent reform.
On October 2, protesters marched from Puerta del Sol square, where a protest camp has been set up, demanding political action to halt evictions and ensure affordable housing. Red flags and banners filled the streets as demonstrators accused lawmakers of ignoring the plight of ordinary citizens.
Activists argue that without stronger protections, thousands of families risk losing their homes amid rising rents and economic pressures. The defeat of the housing package has further inflamed tensions, with unions, student groups, and social organisations vowing to continue mobilising until reforms are enacted.
Spain’s housing crisis remains one of the most pressing social issues, and the protests highlight growing frustration with political inaction.
