Tens of thousands protest in Spain over housing crisis

Tens of thousands of people have protested across Spain calling for greater protections for tenants after the government failed to pass emergency housing legislation.

About 50 marches took place on Saturday in cities including Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona.

“There is a lot of anger in the streets,” a spokesperson for the Valencia Tenants’ Union said. Clashes have taken place between some protesters and police in the city.

The measures put forward by Pedro Sánchez’s leftist coalition government on Friday followed public outcry over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home last month after she was unable to afford a sharp rent increase.

Her eviction triggered nationwide protests across Spain with protesters demanding lower rents, an end to evictions, and a ban on investment funds – or “vulture funds” as the government has termed them – buying property.

Sanchez’s defeat in Congress on Friday heightens speculation that he might call an early general election, which was not due until next summer.

His coalition government, made up of his ruling Socialist party and junior partner the Sumar alliance, does not command a majority in parliament.