MADRID: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities on Saturday as they stepped up demands for action to tackle a mounting housing crisis after government measures were struck down by the opposition. Some demonstrators waved posters calling for a general strike after the measures drawn up to address mass anger over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, and other housing issues, were rejected in parliament on Friday. "It's a shame," said Nando de Anguulo, 26, who joined Saturday's protest in Madrid. "It only proves that it is us the people who have to adapt to the political parties, and not the politicians to what the people want, and this can't go on like that.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez might call a snap election for November after the legislation failed to pass, Spanish media reported on Friday, and would be watching the strength of Saturday's protests before making a decision. Sanchez's office refused to comment on the reports.
In the southeastern city of Valencia, demonstrators clashed on Saturday with police who fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up protests. About 30 protesters managed to get inside the City of Arts and Sciences, a landmark cultural building in the city, before they were ousted by police. Other demonstrations in 50 Spanish cities were peaceful. About 70,000 protesters took part in the demonstration in Madrid, the Spanish government said on Saturday.
The opposition People's Party also voted against the measures. "Housing doesn't become more affordable through decrees; it becomes more affordable by building more homes. We're not going to lie to you - it's not going to be easy, and it's not going to happen quickly," said PP lawmaker Juan Bravo.
Sanchez, who in recent months has faced pressure over the government's handling of a migrant crisis in Ceuta and accusations of corruption in his party, could decide that calling an election would be a good way to change the narrative, said Alejandro Quiroga, a political scientist at the Complutense University of Madrid. — Reuters
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