Thousands of people demonstrated yesterday in Barcelona, Madrid, and over 40 cities across Spain, advocating for the right to dignified housing and calling for an end to rental speculation.

The protests were organized by the Tenant's Union and the Tenants' Syndicate under the slogan "Let’s end the housing business," amid rising costs and a shortage of homes.

Organizers are demanding rent reductions of up to 50%, along with other significant reforms.

Participants expressed feelings of uncertainty and despair regarding their housing situations, with statements reflecting their concerns: "I don’t know what will happen to my future," and "I don’t know if I will be able to afford rent in Barcelona." The atmosphere, while spirited, was marked by a sense of discouragement regarding the lack of concrete solutions for housing issues.

This demonstration in Barcelona marks the second protest of its kind in the city and the third in Madrid, but it is notable for being the first citywide movement coordinated simultaneously across the country.

Cities joining the protests include Valencia, Málaga, Santander, A Coruña, Gijón, and Palma.

The demonstrations aimed to reframe housing as a right rather than a commodity, highlighting that the rising costs of rent and the government's insufficient measures to address this issue contribute to a sense of "impunity" among the real estate sector.

Organizations assert that the increasing cost of housing is a primary factor driving the working class into poverty.

In Madrid, the protests reportedly gathered more than 150,000 participants, according to the Tenants’ Syndicate, although the local government estimated attendance at 15,000.

In Barcelona, organizers claim attendance of 100,000, contrasting with a government estimate of 12,000.

Carme Arcarazo, a spokesperson for the Tenant's Union, emphasized the ongoing problem of exorbitantly high rental prices.

She criticized the government for failing to take action despite being responsible for the current housing situation, warning that without confronting the real estate business, the housing crisis could become increasingly dire.

A significant demographic of young people participated in the protests, highlighting the challenges faced by students and young professionals.

Iñaki, Carlos, and Julia, all 23 years old, voiced their frustrations over unaffordable rents in Madrid, which require them to balance studies with work and family assistance to afford shared accommodations.

Another protester, Sofía, 30 years old, described her struggle to find affordable housing despite having a steady job, stating that the options available are either prohibitively expensive or of poor quality.

Among those affected by the crisis, Elena and Alicia, both 39, shared their experiences of being pressured to leave their rented home in Madrid following its acquisition by a private equity firm.

They recounted how the real estate company has begun renovations that complicate their living conditions.

At the protest in Palma, roughly 3,500 people took to the streets, with organizers claiming attendance of 10,000.

This marked the second large demonstration in under a year in Palma against high housing prices, combined with protests against the impact of mass tourism on local housing availability.

Demonstrators carried banners referencing Article 47 of the Spanish Constitution, opposing tourist rentals and the influence of private equity funds.

Valeria Racu, spokesperson for the Tenants' Syndicate in Madrid, announced during the demonstration that they would call for indefinite rental contracts and urged the nearly half a million households facing the expiration of rental agreements this year to resist any eviction attempts.

The protest's demands include indefinite rental contracts, the recovery of vacant and tourist properties, restrictions on home purchases solely for residency, and increased public housing availability not through mass construction but by reclaiming properties from housing organizations and through expropriations.

Criticism was directed towards real estate companies, rental platforms like Airbnb, and the government, accused of siding with landlords and failing to combat the ongoing speculation in the housing market.

Protesters criticized the government's housing laws and proclaimed their intent to ensure the right to housing is upheld across all administrations.

The movement's leadership emphasized an objective to end the "impunity" of landlords, declaring their resolve to confront the ongoing housing challenges and fortify community solidarity through continued actions, including a proposed 'rent strike' aimed at achieving substantial reductions in monthly rental prices.