A tent encampment in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol plaza has grown to over 300 tents, according to Marta García, a 60-year-old retired schoolteacher participating in the protest. This expansion follows Saturday's demonstrations in Madrid, where tens of thousands protested Spain's deepening housing crisis.
The protests gained momentum after news channels showed the eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman with a disability, from her home. Her lawyers reportedly reached a deal for her to return home on Monday evening.
Housing campaigners have highlighted that rents in Spain have risen by 80% and home costs by 63% within a decade. They have presented a list of demands to the government, including measures to halt evictions and regulate short-term and room rentals.
Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced on Sunday that his government is "working around the clock to introduce a royal decree on housing on Tuesday." Campaigners are awaiting the government's weekly Tuesday meeting, viewing it as a critical moment for potential changes to housing policy.