Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in 40 Spanish cities Today on Saturday to protest over rent prices and lack of affordable housing in a country that enjoys faster economic growth in Europe and still suffers from a severe lack of housing aggravated by the tourist explosion.

The center -left government of Spain is struggling to find a balance between attracting tourists and immigrants to fill in job gaps and maintain rent prices accessible to Spanish citizens, as short -term houses in tourists are growing in tourists.

“Regardless of who is in government, we must defend rights to housing”They were shouting protesters by beating a keychain in Madrid, where more than 150,000 protesters marched in the center of the capital, according to the local renters’ union.

Average rental prices have doubled and housing prices have risen by 44% in the last decade, according to data from the Idealista real estate site, far exceeding the level of wage growth. At the same time, the offer of housing for rent has been reduced by half after the 2020 pandemic.

‘We all throw us all out to make tourist apartments »Typically said Margarita Aizpourou, a 65 -year -old resident of the popular district of Lavapies. As he said, the owners said in about 100 families living there that their rental contracts will not be renewed in about 100 families.

Home owners and experts say that existing regulations discourage long -term rentals and landlords consider renting to tourists or foreigners for days or for a few months is more profitable and safer.

Spain received a record number of 94 million tourists in 2024, making it the second country with the most visits to the world. At the same time, an influx of thousands of immigrants are growing the housing deficit in 500,000 homes, according to the Spanish bank.

According to official data, only about 120,000 new houses are being built in Spain each year – one sixth of levels before the 2008 financial crisis – exacerbating the already intense lack of supply.

26 -year -old Wendy Davila stressed that the problem is not only focused on the city center, as rent prices are too high everywhere.

“You can’t need to live in Madrid to share an apartment with four others »; he said.