Tens of thousands take to Madrid streets demanding housing action

On October 3, 2026, tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid and other Spanish cities against the government's failure to pass emergency housing measures aimed at protecting tenants. The protests followed the rejection of two decrees by parliament on October 2 that would have restricted evictions and limited the power of "vulture funds" (investment firms) buying properties for high returns.

The measures were defeated after key allies, including Catalan separatist party Junts, voted against them despite initially supporting similar proposals. The eviction last month of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment she had occupied for seven decades sparked the nationwide protests and renewed calls for action on housing affordability.

With his government facing political challenges, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is under pressure to call snap elections as early as November in response to public anger over rising rents and inadequate tenant protections. Protests also turned violent in Valencia, where demonstrators clashed with riot police, throwing fences at them while officers used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Despite these tensions, no injuries were reported from the clashes.

The government's inability to address the housing crisis could lead to early elections, shifting Spain’s current legislative term set to end next summer. The protests are seen as a significant challenge for Sanchez's minority left-wing coalition government amidst growing public frustration over living costs and housing insecurity.