Madrid housing protesters keep camp alive amid failed housing decrees and call for general strike

Since Tuesday, dozens of young activists have been living in tents at Puerta del Sol, maintaining a protest that grew after the Congreso de los Diputados voted down two housing decrees, with PP, Vox and Junts opposing both measures. The Sindicato de Inquilinas reports that around half a million people have taken to the streets, while the government estimates 70,000 participants. Campers like Lucía and Zero describe the movement as a source of hope and a response to long-standing housing insecurity, organizing themselves through WhatsApp groups, shared rules and communal cleaning.

They call for a general strike, arguing it is the historic tool to secure housing rights, even as they acknowledge the personal hardships of sleeping on the ground in rain. The protest has drawn counter-demonstrations from far-right groups, prompting the deployment of 500 riot police. Despite these tensions, organizers remain determined to keep the camp and the call for broader action alive.