Spain's youth rally against surging rental prices

The demonstrations took place on Sunday, October 13. The largest was held in Madrid, where—according to the organizers' estimates—about 150,000 people marched through the city centre. Among the protesters were representatives from the left-wing party Podemos and leaders of several trade unions. "We want cheap housing now!" "We fight for a roof over our heads!" "Everyone should have their home" were some of the slogans displayed on the banners.

A similar demonstration took place in the centre of Barcelona. Participants of this march highlighted the issue of mass tourism, claiming it contributes to the rise in rental prices. One of the standout chanted slogans was "Houses are for living in, not for making business!"

A significant portion of the protesters in both Madrid and Barcelona were young people. They demanded the resignation of Spain’s Minister of Housing and Urban Policy, Isabel Rodriguez, accusing her of failing to take actions to lower rental prices and being inactive regarding affordable housing programs.

Protesters emphasized that rental prices in Spain's largest cities are rising rapidly and are significantly higher than the financial capabilities of the average citizen, especially among the youth.

In September, the average rental price of a flat in Spain was about 992 euros (over CAD 1,450), representing a 9.3% increase from the previous year. The average rate in the Madrid metropolitan area was 1,602 euros (around CAD 2,350), and in Catalonia, 1,348 euros (over CAD 1,975). Property purchase prices are also rising; over the last year, they increased by 8.7%.

Additionally, Spaniards are not hiding their growing social frustration related to the rapidly increasing cost of living, which is reflected in mass protests in various cities.