Housing Uprising: Spain's Mass Protest

Recent protests in Spain highlight a growing housing crisis fueled by rising rents, soaring mortgages, and stagnant wages. This crisis, impacting millions, is exacerbated by the dominance of real estate speculation and a lack of affordable public housing. The housing crisis in Spain is attributed to financialization of housing, which drives up costs and undermines access for ordinary citizens. Private equity firms and landlords profit from inflated rents and purchase of properties, while wages fail to keep pace. The situation is worsened by the failure of government to build affordable housing. The "Of Course We Can" movement, organizing the protests, emphasizes housing as a fundamental right, not a commodity for profit. Protesters demand rent control, increased public housing construction, and an end to speculative practices driving up prices. They advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of residents over the interests of wealthy investors. These Spanish protests resonate with similar movements globally, including protests against Trump in the US and calls for strike action across Europe. These movements share a common root: the exploitative logic of capitalism, which prioritizes profit over people's basic needs. The Spanish housing protests demonstrate a growing resistance to this system, highlighting the demand for economic justice and a redefinition of housing as a social right. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/04/16/tylm-a16.html