Tens of thousands protest across Spain over housing crisis
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Protesters carry a banner that reads "Towards the general strike" as they demand political action to stop evictions and alleviate the housing crisis, in Madrid, Spain, on Oct 3.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Tens of thousands protested across Spain on Oct 3 demanding action on the housing crisis after government measures were rejected in parliament.
- Some protesters called for a general strike, while clashes with police occurred in Valencia involving rubber bullets and tear gas.
- Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez may call a snap election in November, reportedly monitoring protest strength before deciding, though his office declined to comment.
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MADRID – Spanish police arrested three members of a far-right group and fired rubber bullets on the night of Oct 3 in Madrid after tens of thousands had marched across the country to demand action to tackle a housing crisis.
Far-right activists, some of whom performed Nazi salutes, tried to reach demonstrators camped out in the Puerta del Sol, a central square in the Spanish capital, to protest the housing crisis, the Spanish government said.
Earlier, some demonstrators waved posters calling for a general strike after the measures drawn up to address mass anger overthe eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, and other housing issues, were rejected in Parliament on Oct 2.
“It's a shame,” said Nando de Anguulo, 26, who joined the Oct 3 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 and would be watching the strength of Saturday’s protests before deciding, Spanish media reported on Oct 2.
Sanchez’s office refused to comment on the reports.
In the south-eastern city of Valencia, demonstrators clashed on Oct 3 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 police ousted them. Other demonstrations in 50 Spanish cities were peaceful.
Valeria Racu, spokesperson for the Tenants Union, told reporters in Madrid that a general strike would be called after talks with labour unions.
About 70,000 protesters took part in the demonstration in Madrid, the Spanish government said on Oct 3.
Protests planned in Barcelona and the nearby city of Hospitalet de Llobregat were called off because of heavy rain. REUTERS