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Demonstrations have entered a third day in Madrid’s historic Puerta del Sol plaza calling for stronger protection for tenants in the face of a lack of housing and soaring rents, following the eviction of an octogenarian.
Tensions erupted last week after Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was evicted from her home in the upscale Retiro neighbourhood where she had lived for more than seven decades after an investment fund bought her apartment.
After being given just 30 minutes to leave with only essential belongings, the pensioner was eventually removed from the building on a stretcher.
Hundreds of people outside the block clashed with police, while the leftist central government condemned the centre-right regional administration that had failed to prevent the eviction.
By Monday, hundreds of tents filled the square, echoing the protests of 2011 when activists occupied the area for a month to demonstrate against austerity measures adopted during the global financial crisis.
On Saturday, some 30,000 people had marched through Madrid to object to the treatment of Maricarmen and others forced from their homes by investment funds.
Marchers shook keys and bore banners with slogans including “Speculators go home” and “Housing is for living”.
Blanca, a student, said young Spaniards were struggling to move out of their parents’ homes.
“Politicians not only do nothing but make it worse,” she said. “We’ve decided to put our foot down, so let’s hope they hear us.”
Further protests were set to take place across Spain on Monday, according to the Tenants’ Union, which has been co-ordinating the protests.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday said the government was working to enact a decree on housing in parliament by Tuesday that would bring immediate relief for tenants.
Rents have on average doubled over the past decade, far outpacing salary growth.
Spain has a deficit of 750,000 homes, according to the central bank. Only about 120,000 are built each year, a sixth of the level before the 2008 financial crisis.
Ayuso on Friday blamed Sánchez’s government for failing to address the housing issue in its eight years in power.