Tens of thousands of people in Madrid took to the streets in a protest organized by the local Tenants' Union due to the deteriorating situation in the housing market. The organizers estimated the number of participants at 80,000 to 100,000 people, while authorities counted 23,000 attendees at the rally, reports El Pais.
The march, which began at Atocha station, took place under the slogan "Housing costs us our lives. Let's lower prices." The main demands of the protesters are the return of indefinite rental contracts, a reduction in rental costs, as well as an increase in the minimum wage and pensions for residents to 1500 euros.
According to the organizers of the event, over the past five years, rental prices in Madrid have increased by more than 50 percent, and the average cost of renting apartments in the region exceeds 1500 euros per month. As a result, some families spend more than 70 percent of their income on housing, claims the Madrid Tenants' Union. They blame property owners, investment funds, and agencies, as well as the authorities, for allowing such a system to exist.
Spain is preparing for a wave of protests in June
The event held in Madrid is expected to mark the beginning of a series of protests that will continue in June across 24 cities in Spain, notes El Pais. The issue of housing affordability is a pressing topic in Spain, exacerbated by the influx of tourists to the country in recent years. In such conditions, it is more profitable for landlords to rent out apartments on a short-term basis, making it harder for locals to find long-term rental housing.
Alicia del Río, a representative of the Madrid Tenants' Union, called for civil disobedience during the event as a means to combat what she termed the "dictatorship of the rental business." According to her, Spanish legislation protects speculation in the housing market, and unions should conduct a general strike in the country. "All the rights that society enjoys today once seemed impossible and were achieved through disobedience," the activist stated.
What measures are the Spanish authorities taking against the influx of tourists
The ruling coalition in the Spanish parliament acknowledges the problem with rental prices in the country; however, it views it as part of a broader issue—the mass influx of tourists to Spain. A special group has been established under the parliamentary Commission on Industry and Tourism to develop new restrictive measures in this area.
In Barcelona, it is proposed to completely stop accommodating foreigners in "tourist apartments" by 2029. The Madrid city hall has also promised to reduce the number of such apartments. In several regions of Spain, tourist taxes and fines for violations typical of tourists have been increased.
At the same time, the tourism business ranks first in Spain's economy, noted Jorge Ramírez, a professor of economics at Madrid University, in a conversation with "Deutsche Welle." In 2025, the country welcomed 97 million tourists, which is almost double the local population. Therefore, no one will "shut down" this sector, as demanded by leftist party deputies; rather, the tourist flow will likely be redirected from popular cities to other destinations in Spain, the expert is convinced.
