Hundreds of thousands of protesters in Spain have joined mass demonstrations in at least three cities after parliament failed Friday to pass emergency measures to address a housing affordability crisis. Rent has doubled in Spain over the past decade, with many accusing large corporations, often depicted as vultures on placards, of buying homes and charging exorbitant rents.
On average, Spain issues at least 45 eviction orders daily, but it was an 87-year-old pensioner unable to afford a 430 percent rent hike who helped ignite the mobilisation.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez presented an emergency package to parliament to ease the anger, but right-wing parties blocked it. Protests that began in Madrid have since spread to Barcelona and Valencia, with demonstrators demanding what they say their constitution already guarantees: the right to decent and adequate housing.
Al Jazeera’s Michael Appel reports.
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