Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched across Spain on Wednesday over the country’s housing affordability and purchasing power, just weeks before an early general election.
Reuters footage showed furniture set alight in the streets after the main march had ended. As evening fell in Spain’s capital, the wide Paseo del Prado boulevard became a sea of umbrellas as thousands gathered in steady rain. His government has defended its handling of both incidents, but his Socialist Party continues to trail in opinion polls.
Over 4,00,000 marchers gathered in Barcelona, according to housing activists. Meanwhile, the city government said 55,000 turned out to walk behind a huge banner that said “Live. Spanish government officials estimated 120,000 people turned out in Madrid despite pouring rain. Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment of more than 70 years on 23 September after she was unable to afford steep rent increases, according to BBC. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hopes to tap into voter anger over housing ahead of the November 29 election, shifting attention away from a deadly migration incident in Ceuta and a train crash last month.
Not Just Survive,” according to the Associated Press. Tensions also escalated in Madrid, where riot police fired foam bullets and used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters near the central Plaza de España, a Reuters witness said. Around 120,000 demonstrators marched through central Madrid, carrying placards shaped like houses and chanting “We have no home” as they demanded more affordable housing, according to an official estimate. “My son is 43 years old and still doesn’t own a home as he cannot afford one,” López said. She said her son, who works in IT, has to rent a small room in a shared apartment. “I hope a government that benefits us comes to power, especially the working class,” she added, referring to the November 29 election.
