Thousands gathered within the Spanish capital to demand that “housing is a proper, not a enterprise”.
Thousands of individuals marched by means of the streets of Madrid on Sunday to demand reasonably priced housing and affordable rents. Around 40 neighborhood and tenant associations participated within the protest. The actual property disaster in Madrid and different Spanish cities was the main target of the march.
The march began in Atocha and headed to the Paseo del Prado the place the day earlier than the Armed Forces had marched for the National Day. The Sindicato de Inquilinas and numerous organizations led the march carrying banners with messages similar to “Lower costs” and slogans “We cannot make ends meet. If costs do not go down, lease strike” and “Tenants responsible, accountable authorities” .
Valeria Racu, spokeswoman for the tenants’ union, warned landlords and actual property firms that their “impunity is over”, additionally hinting at a doable lease strike. He mentioned: “If you retain elevating costs, we are going to cease paying them and there will probably be no police, courts or thugs to evict us all.”
Calls for motion
Protesters aimed their anger not solely at landowners but additionally at authorities officers. They referred to as for the resignation of Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez, accusing her of inaction concerning the housing disaster. Racu mentioned: “You have just one factor pending: taking duty. This is why we ask for the minister’s resignation.”
The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has additionally come below fireplace for opposing the nationwide housing legislation. Paloma López Bermejo, CC.OO. The normal secretary in Madrid urged Ayuso to cease opposing the legislation and take motion on the housing disaster.
Impact on tenants
According to CC.OO., greater than 50% of the wages of employees within the area are allotted to housing, which severely impacts the standard of lifetime of residents. Many younger individuals in Madrid face the double burden of low wages and excessive rents, with some spending as much as 50% of their revenue on housing.
The protest additionally focused vulture funds, accusing them of evicting long-time residents with out providing alternate options. They pointed to particular buildings owned by these trusts, highlighting the risk they pose to reasonably priced housing.
This demonstration in Madrid is a component of a bigger motion, with related protests deliberate in cities similar to Barcelona, Valencia and Malaga. Organizers just like the Housing Rights Platform have labored on the grassroots stage to unite communities within the struggle for reasonably priced housing.
Despite the introduction of a state housing legislation and different measures, protesters argue that these initiatives aren’t sufficient to curb rising housing prices. They are calling for more durable controls on evictions, larger regulation of lease costs and extra funding in social housing.
