Tens of Thousands Protest Across Spain Over Housing Crisis

Reuters

Protesters carry a banner that reads "Towards the general strike" as they demand political action to stop evictions and alleviate the housing crisis in Madrid.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities on Saturday, intensifying calls for government action to address the country’s worsening housing crisis after opposition parties blocked proposed measures in parliament.

Some demonstrators carried posters calling for a general strike, following the rejection on Friday of legislation aimed at addressing widespread public anger over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid and other housing-related issues.

Spanish media reported on Friday that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez could call a snap election in November after the legislation failed to pass. He was expected to assess the scale of Saturday’s protests before deciding whether to proceed.

In the south-eastern city of Valencia, protesters clashed with police, who used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

Around 30 protesters managed to enter the City of Arts and Sciences, a landmark cultural complex, before being removed by police. Demonstrations in around 50 other Spanish cities remained peaceful.

The Spanish government said around 70,000 people took part in the demonstration in Madrid on Saturday.

Source: Reuters



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