Housing protests grow in Barcelona ahead of the decree vote

The housing protest gained visibility in Barcelona ahead of the vote on the decrees in Congress. The camp in Plaça Catalunya reached around 120 tents and pot-and-pan protests spread to Plaça Sant Jaume and other cities. In the Catalan capital, hundreds and, at times, thousands of people gathered to demand approval of the measures.

Decree-laws are rules the government can approve on grounds of urgency, but they need subsequent backing from Congress to remain in force. In this case, the vote concerned housing measures linked to evictions, rents and other public actions.

For tenants and landlords, the result could affect the immediate framework for some contracts and proceedings. The mobilisation also shows that housing remains an issue of intense social pressure, especially in cities with high rents and strong demand.