Pedro Almodóvar joins Madrid housing rights protests

Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar joined housing rights activists in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol to protest the country's ongoing housing crisis. The demonstration follows the police eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her home of nearly 70 years, an event activists describe as “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Protesters have established a camp of approximately one hundred tents in the central plaza, following mass demonstrations where tens of thousands of people demanded protections for tenants and bans on rent increases. Almodóvar criticized political leaders, stating that Spanish society cannot endure the crisis any longer and that the issue is paralyzing life in the country, particularly for young people attempting to gain independence.

Data indicates that rental prices per square meter have nearly doubled over the last decade, reaching 15.1 euros in August. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has indicated that the government is working on a housing bill, expected to be presented this coming Tuesday, which may include measures for automatic contract renewals and restrictions on evictions.