Housing protest targets Madrid's regional and city leaders

Puerta del Sol calls out Ayuso and Almeida over housing

Who are you shouting at when you shout in Puerta del Sol? The chant was clear and named names: "Ayuso, Almeida, get the hell out." The Madrid square filled up again with the so-called green tide, presenting a jarring paradox. The housing protest targeted the regional and municipal governments, not the central Executive. Several participants pointed out that it is the central Executive that signs the housing law and manages national policy in this area, and yet not a single chant was heard against the relevant ministry in Puerta del Sol.

This leads to the first uncomfortable question. If the problem is unaffordable rent, why is the anger directed at those who don't decide on the national market?

"The people united will never be defeated" in Puerta del Sol

Images circulating on social media showed a full square and a mix of classic and protest slogans. "The people united will never be defeated" was heard, the same lyrics sung for decades by social movements worldwide. The prevailing diagnosis was that something is changing in Madrid.

Suspicion arose during discussions that this was not a spontaneous movement but a well-orchestrated campaign, with some mentioning the Tenants' Union as a sign of a radical profile.

Why does the protest target the opposition, not the Government?

This is where the real debate begins. Some argue that the demonstration reflects a shift in focus: housing is no longer discussed solely in Congress but also in neighborhoods, homeowners' associations, and district councils – areas managed by the regional and municipal PP (People's Party) in Madrid. From this perspective, shouting at Ayuso and Almeida means targeting those closest to the issue.

The objection comes from another angle. If evictions depend on national legislation, as do immigration and border policies, the natural target would be the central Executive. This is summarized in a recurring phrase, like one participant's comment: "Spain must be the only country in the world where demonstrations are against the opposition instead of the Government." A country without real alternation, it is argued, flirts with the fundamental problem.

The Catalan mirror: comparing figures in the debate

To challenge the Madrid narrative, Catalonia is often brought up. The comparison circulating is striking: Catalonia accounts for around 25% of Spain's evictions despite having only 16% of the population. And it doesn't stop there. According to the same calculation, housing supply in Barcelona has fallen three times as much as in the country as a whole, with the regional and municipal governments held by different parties. In other words, if rent is the problem, regions governed by other parties don't fare any better.

The counter-argument focuses on the ranking of concerns. It is claimed that under the PP, housing was the 15th concern for Spaniards, while under the PSOE it is the first. The conclusion many draw is uncomfortable for everyone: polls measure anxiety, not management. And anxiety rises regardless of who signs the decree.

Who is the tenant protesting?

Another angle is the profile of the protester. Part of the analysis insists that the green tide consists of tenants who pay their rent religiously each month and demand price controls, not non-payment solutions. This contrasts with harsher realities barely visible on the banners: sublets, overcrowded rooms, non-payments, rent subsidies not reaching those in need. They are the elite of tenants, critics ironically remark, believing they are entitled to everything.

The case of an elderly tenant protected by an old rental law and evicted under the subsequent regulations was also mentioned. This serves both narratives: for some, it's proof the system is failing; for others, it's an argument that an exceptional case is being magnified to create a general cause.

Housing as a tax and the 2027 horizon

Beneath the noise lies a rarely discussed fiscal argument. No current government benefits from cheap housing, cynics assert: with expensive property, indirect taxes, VAT, and deed expenses rise, and that money funds public spending. Lowering the price per square meter, in this view, means giving up revenue. Without taxes, there's no budget to distribute.

Above all this looms the calendar. Scenarios involving 2027 are frequently mentioned, along with the idea that whoever wins those elections will hold power until 2030. Some continue to expect the government to fall into their laps by its own weight; others are stirring up the streets to keep the cause alive. Meanwhile, rent prices continue to rise without regard for any political agenda.

What comes next

There is no resolution. Not on the streets, where the movement is measured by the next call to protest, nor in the institutions, where responsibilities and blame are shifted. Those who protest against Ayuso and Almeida in Puerta del Sol have made it perfectly clear whom they are targeting. What they have not yet clarified is what decree they would sign tomorrow if given the pen.