Spaniards stage noisy cacerolada protests demanding tougher tenant protections ahead of parliamentary vote

In Madrid, demonstrators assembled for about an hour in front of the city hall, creating a cacerolada by clanging keys, whistles, spoons and wooden utensils while chanting slogans supporting upcoming housing measures. The protest was triggered by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who had lived in her apartment for 70 years, a case that sparked widespread outrage across Spain. Hundreds joined the noisy rally, and parallel demonstrations were reported in Barcelona and Córdoba, highlighting growing discontent over the housing crisis.

The government’s proposal, set for a parliamentary vote on Friday, seeks stricter limits on evicting vulnerable tenants and a prohibition on companies with speculative aims in the real-estate market through 2028. The conservative Popular Party controls Madrid’s council and has pledged to oppose the package, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on legislators to prioritize humanity over ideology. Tenant-union spokeswoman Alicia del Rio and student Ivan Mantilla Cuenca voiced the demand for authorities to listen to street protests.