Thousands Protest Housing Crisis in Madrid and Camp in Sol Square

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Madrid to protest Spain's worsening housing crisis, according to Spanish newspaper El País and Dutch broadcaster NOS. Protesters called for stronger renter protections, measures against fraud, and a ban on evictions without alternative accommodation. Following the march, activists set up dozens of tents in Puerta del Sol square to establish an ongoing encampment.

The demonstration followed the eviction earlier this week of an 87-year-old woman from an apartment where she had lived for more than seven decades. According to central bank figures cited in the reports, Spain faces a shortage of approximately 550,000 homes, and social housing accounts for less than 2% of the market — well below the European Union average.