Spanish protestors fed up of tourists threaten to ‘bring the country to a standstill’

Mass tourism has been a divisive conversation in Southern Europe for a few years now (Picture: Getty) Protestors in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia have swarmed the streets, demanding greater protections for tenants amid Spain’s ongoing housing crisis. Across 50 coordinated marches on Saturday October 3, organisers reported that 500,000 people came out in support — many of whom held up signs that read ‘right to a roof’, while others chanted ‘your profits, our misery’. The night before, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government failed to secure parliamentary backing for emergency housing legislation which would’ve strengthened tenant protections, curbed evictions, and restricted investment funds buying residential properties. Over the past few years, mass tourism has had a massive impact on the housing market in Southern Europe, particularly when it comes to short-term rentals. It’s become near-impossible for locals in need of accommodation to compete with tourists willing to pay premium prices for short-term holiday lets. This isn’t the first time Spanish residents have taken to the streets to protest the lack of affordable housing (Picture: Europa Press via Getty Images) Early this morning, Sánchez officially announced that there will be an early election held in November, admitting that his government has ‘made mistakes and have not managed to do everything we set out to do’. He added: ‘The time has come for the Spanish people to decide what future they want for themselves and for their country.’ What’s been the lead up to these recent protests? Last month, activists camped outside the home of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid after an investment firm raised her rent, forcing her eviction. Maricarmen, who relied on volunteers to help pack her belongings, had lived in the flat for 70 years. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. And this is just one case where locals have made their frustration known. Particularly active in the summer, anti-tourism demonstrations often take place across mainland Spain, Mallorca, and the Canary Islands. In July this year, grassroots collective Menys Turisme, Mes Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) gathered 30,000 protesters in Palma, Mallorca to march against the growing number of visitors to the island. Arguing that Mallorca is officially ‘at its limit’, the group issued a declaration on social media criticising the government for prioritising tourism while ‘the resident population suffers an unprecedented housing crisis and a progressive decline in living conditions.’ Over 50 marches took place across Spain on Saturday (Picture: Getty) And just a few days ago, in solidarity with Madrid, 45 people in Gran Canaria camped outside the headquarters of the Government Delegation in Canarias. Residents discontent is understandable. Property prices in Spain right now are about 13% higher than one year ago, according to the INE’s 2026 national housing price index. While officials have made attempts to ease the crisis, introducing a ban on short-term rentals in Barcelona by 2029, locals have made it clear that they want more to be done. What happened at the protests on Saturday? One of the biggest marches took place in Madrid. In preparation, some people had camped in one of the city’s main squares for days. During the protest, locals held banners that read: ‘There won’t be peace for rentism’, and ‘I study to have a future, not to have a tiny apartment’. They also reportedly shook keys and chanted: ‘We have the keys of all the city’. Protestors have shared that until the government dares to regulate the housing market, many will have to leave Madrid (Picture: Getty) Speaking with local news outlet RTVE, one protestor shared: ‘We’re not here for pleasure or comfort. We’re here out of conviction.’ Another protester, 26-year-old librarian Marcos Sainz, told AFP news agency that he used to share a two-bedroom flat with friends, paying 900 euros (£766) a month in rent. Today, he claimed that a one-bedroom flat often costs 1,000 euros, if not more. While demonstrations remained, for the most part, peaceful, a spokesperson for the Valencia Tenants’ Union admitted that there was a ‘lot of anger in the streets’. While the protests remained largely peaceful, there was reportedly some violence in Valencia (Picture: Europa Press via Getty Images) At one point, protestors in Valencia clashed with police officers near the arts centre Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, where a real estate summit was taking place. When demonstrators began throwing objects at officers, they were met with rubber bullets. What happens next? The snap election is due to be held on November 29. But, this might not be swift enough to call off the protestor’s plans. At the march in Madrid, demonstrators at the front of the parade held a banner which read: ‘Towards the general strike’. According to Spanish radio network Cadena Ser, a spokesperson for the tenants’ union shared that organisers are in talks with labour unions to call a general strike as soon as possible. Millions of Spaniards are struggling with affordable housing right now (Picture: Europa Press via Getty Images) The goal is reportedly to ‘bring the country to a complete standstill’. Valeria Racu, another spokesperson for the union, added that they want to achieve something ‘historic’. The last time something of this magnitude occurred was in 2012, when two nationwide general strikes were held against Mariano Rajoy’s government. If another were to take place, Spanish newspaper Demócrata emphasised that there would need to be ‘a formal call by legitimized organizations, with a date, objectives, and the corresponding notice’. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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