Madrid, the capital of Spain and one of Europe's most beautiful and ancient cities, has become the center of heated events these days. Tens of thousands of locals, unhappy with the skyrocketing cost of housing, have taken to the city's streets. Peaceful citizens are firmly demanding that the government curb prices and implement radical reforms in the sector.
According to various sources, a massive crowd ranging from 23,000 to 100,000 people participated in this public demonstration organized by the local Tenants' Association.
“Housing is costing us our lives!”
This peaceful protest “Housing is costing us our lives. Let's lower the prices” was organized under this loud and poignant slogan. The demands of the protesters are simple and vital:
Restoring the system of indefinite rental contracts as it was before;
Significantly reducing the amount of monthly rent payments;
Raising the minimum wage and pension amount in the country to 1,500 euros.
According to the grim statistics provided by the organizers, the cost of renting shelter in Madrid has increased by more than 50 percent over the last five years. As a result, the average monthly rent for an apartment in the city has now exceeded 1,500 euros.
The bitter truth: The Tenants' Union warns that some needy families are forced to pay more than 70 percent of their total income just for their place of residence. The protesters emphasize that real estate owners, large investment funds, real estate agencies, and current government policy are to blame for this dire situation.
The wave will spread across Spain
This major demonstration in Madrid is just the beginning. According to reports, similar actions are planned to continue in 24 other major Spanish cities in the near future.
Alicia del Rio, an official representative of the Tenants' Association, harshly condemned the situation, calling the current system in the country a “dictatorship of the rental business” and called on citizens to practice civil disobedience to defend their rights.
What is the government's response?
The Spanish leadership points to the excessive influx of tourists as the main factor behind this global problem. The fact is that due to the popularity of short-term tourist rental services (especially via online platforms), there is a shortage of affordable long-term housing for the local population.
To ease the situation, a proposal has been put forward in the famous city of Barcelona to gradually ban tourist apartments entirely by 2029. The leadership of the capital, Madrid, is also working on drastically reducing the number of such tourist-oriented rental properties.
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