Thousands rally in Barcelona against high housing costs 

Thousands of people – 12,000, according to police, and 100,000 according to organizers – gathered at Plaça Espanya in Barcelona on Saturday, demanding the right to affordable housing and opposing high rental prices. 

The demonstration was organized by the Tenants' Union, which also called for similar protests in around 40 cities across Spain. 

At the start of the protest, Tenants' Union spokesperson Carme Arcarazo, condemned rents that are "still sky-high" and said that "the governments have done nothing about it." 

"Landlords are to blame, but the governments are responsible," she said.  

Housing crisis "a conflict" 

Arcarazo also criticized the lack of regulation on seasonal rentals and claimed that the housing crisis is not "a very complex problem" but rather "a conflict." 

"Only by organizing, going out into the streets, and standing our ground will we win," she said. 

Arcarazo praised the ongoing rent strike against La Caixa, warning that they won't hesitate to extend the strike if necessary. 

The demonstration aimed to highlight "the real protagonists in the fight for housing," with participation from residents who have initiated rent strikes at various housing developments owned by La Caixa, as well as residents from informal settlements in Montcada i Reixac, and tenants of a building that has organized against temporary rentals. 

The protest was the second major demonstration, after the one held on November 23 last year. 

The Tenants' Union said that this movement "was not the end but the beginning," stressing that it is not about "going out on the streets for just one day." 

According to the association, this latest call to action has garnered support from more than 4,000 organizations from various sectors, including educational communities, feminist groups, healthcare collectives, environmental activists, as well as organizations like Firefighters Against Evictions.  

The Tenants' Union noted that its membership has grown by 25%, increasing from 4,621 to 5,711 since November 23, and new groups have emerged across Spain – in Valencia, Seville, Cadiz, Guadalajara, and Asturias.  

Support from CCOO and UGT unions 

The CCOO and UGT unions also participated in the protest, supporting the demand to lower rents, as they believe the housing crisis impacts all workers. 

"You can't live without food or a roof," said Javier Pacheco, secretary general of CCOO Catalunya, in statements to the press. 

"The movement for dignified housing is a wave that cannot be stopped."  

"We need dignified work, just as we need dignified housing," said Camil Ros, secretary general of UGT, calling for "security and stability" in both rental prices and lease durations.