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Students protest housing and travel costs in Crete
Students and representatives from student associations in Crete have launched protests in Heraklion to highlight the rising costs of housing and transportation. Demonstrators set up tents outside the new Crete Regional Authority building in the Lakko area and entered the Regional Council session with banners to voice their grievances directly to institutional officials.
A primary concern cited by the protesters is the lack of affordable student housing, exacerbated by the rise of short-term rentals like Airbnb. Banners displayed at the site included messages such as “Student housing 2026” and “Rented studio, rent price 500 euros,” alongside a slogan noting that students lose homes to tourists once June arrives.
In addition to housing, students from the Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) are demanding a reduction in travel costs for daily commutes. The protesters have also called for the repurposing of public properties, such as the former courthouse in central Heraklion and the former psychiatric hospital in Chania, to address the accommodation crisis. Further demonstrations involving students, teachers, and unions are planned for Eleftherias Square.
Entities
Chania · Crete Regional Authority · Heraklion · Higher Vocational Training Schools
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Protesters entered the Regional Council session to deliver their grievances. www.ertnews.gr · www.newsbeast.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Students are demanding a reduction in the cost of transportation. www.ertnews.gr · www.newsbeast.gr
- [● 2 SOURCES] The protest highlights the impact of short-term rentals like Airbnb on student housing availability. www.newsbeast.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Students set up tents outside the Crete Regional Authority building in the Lakko area of Heraklion. www.ertnews.gr · www.newsbeast.gr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Protesters suggested using the former courthouse in Heraklion and the former psychiatric hospital in Chania for student housing. www.ertnews.gr