Thousands of protesters have marched across Spain demanding stronger tenant protections after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s minority government failed to pass emergency housing measures in parliament.
Around 50 demonstrations were planned in cities including Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, where clashes were reported between some protesters and police.
The protests intensified following the September eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal after a steep rent increase, prompting demands for lower rents, restrictions on evictions and limits on investment funds purchasing residential property.
In Madrid, organisers claimed as many as 500,000 people participated, while government officials estimated 70,000. Parliament rejected two government decrees that included extending eviction protections for vulnerable tenants, prolonging some rental agreements, increasing taxes on tourist accommodation, restricting property purchases by investment funds and automatically renewing rental contracts.
The parliamentary defeats have also increased speculation that Sánchez could call an early general election.
Look how many people in Spain are protesting for decent housing for all after they tried to evict an 87-year-old woman from her Madrid apartment. This is the only way to defeat the ruling class and build a better world for all. Workers of the world unite! pic.twitter.com/2aIJWsa5rt https://t.co/uGPnm8xNcZ
— Power to the People ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) October 3, 2026
