Mass housing protests across Spain follow eviction attempt in Madrid

On Saturday, October 3, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Madrid as four marches converged at Plaza de Cibeles to demand a general strike against the rising cost of housing. Simultaneously, protesters have maintained a week-long encampment at Puerta del Sol, while violent clashes between police and demonstrators were reported in Valencia. These protests are part of a growing movement addressing the severe housing crisis affecting the country and the broader European region.

The catalyst for the recent mobilization was the attempted eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who has lived in her Madrid apartment for seven decades. An investment firm that acquired the property sought to increase her monthly rent from approximately 500 euros to 2,650 euros. Following public pressure and activist intervention, the eviction was halted, allowing Abascal to remain in her home at her original rent rate.

The unrest in Spain has attracted international attention, with activists from Italy, Ireland, and other nations joining the debate. European housing data underscores the systemic nature of the issue: according to Eurostat, house prices across the European Union surged by 53 percent between 2010 and 2024, with rents rising by 25 percent. Certain nations have experienced even more drastic increases, with prices in Estonia rising by 208 percent.