Hundreds of people have camped at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid following a demonstration against the eviction of an elderly woman. Attendees demand effective measures to tackle the housing crisis.
In the early hours of Sunday, hundreds began camping at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid as a protest against the housing crisis, after a demonstration calling for urgent measures concluded. According to expansion.com, the campers express that they can no longer bear the situation and state:
"either rentism falls or the Government falls".
The camp began after more than 300,000 people joined the demonstration to protest the eviction of Maricarmen, an elderly woman who had to leave her home after more than 70 years of renting. Participants have set up around a hundred tents, following the call of the Madrid Tenants' Union.
The union has stated on social media that the camp aims to demand real measures regarding housing and has invited citizens to contribute by bringing supplies such as sleeping bags and food. During the night, information points about the housing situation in Spain have been organised.
Next Tuesday, the Council of Ministers is expected to approve a royal decree on housing, which the union hopes will address issues such as the end of evictions without housing alternatives and the promotion of decent rental housing. The union's spokesperson, Valeria Racu, has stated that if the Government does not act, disappointment will be evident, as she believes the situation is critical for millions of people in the country.
The camp occurs against a backdrop of growing concern over housing, where cultural figures, such as actors Carlos Bardem and Juan Diego Botto, have also shown up to support the cause. Botto has emphasised the importance of passing an ambitious housing law that addresses the structural problems in the sector.
The history of camping in Sol has precedents, recalling the massive mobilisation of May 15, 2011, which lasted weeks before being evicted by security forces. This time, police presence has been noticeable, with agents from the Civil Guard and the National Police in the area.
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