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Buildings in the Jeronimos neighborhood in Madrid January 20, 2026. Thousands of people marched through central Madrid on May 24, 2026, as they protested soaring rents and a housing shortage. [AFP]
Thousands of people marched through central Madrid on Sunday, chanting and waving banners to protest soaring rents and a housing shortage, and calling for urgent government action.
Housing has consistently ranked among the top concerns for voters in Spain, where demand has risen due to tourism and immigration-linked population growth, while the supply of public rental housing remains limited.
Organised by the Madrid Tenants' Union under the slogan "Housing costs us our lives. Lower rents", the march was backed by Spain's two main trade unions, UGT and CCOO.
