Mass protests across Spain pressured government into new housing policies addressing affordability and evictions.
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Massive protests swept Spain as thousands took to the streets across various cities to protest the government’s perceived inaction on the housing crisis. In Barcelona, protesters blocked a major avenue during a visit by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who called for a broader perspective and state responsibility regarding a proposed “Maricarmen decree.” Tensions flared during the protests in Barcelona, leading to arrests. Similar demonstrations occurred in other cities like Seville, Malaga, Santander, and Santiago de Compostela. The governing coalition parties, PSOE and Sumar, eventually reached an agreement after all-night negotiations on new housing policies, which will be enacted through two decrees. These measures include extending eviction protection until 2030, restricting purchases by certain investment funds until 2028, and extending existing rental contracts for two years. While the government confirmed these changes, both criticism from within its coalition and from opposition leaders highlighted that the solutions were insufficient. The housing crisis gained significant momentum following the eviction of an elderly woman in Madrid, which fueled nationwide protests against rising costs attributed to short-term rentals and investment funds.
