Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday evening demanding affordable housing.
The police reported that around 22,000 people participated in the protests, while organizers claimed the number was 170,000.
Protesters called for rents to be halved, according to the daily El País.
They also demanded that housing in tourist areas be made accessible again to the residents of Barcelona, the capital of the Catalonia region in northeastern Spain.
Another key demand was for rental contracts to be signed for unlimited periods.
“It is unacceptable for us to spend half of our salary on rent and to have to move every time our contract expires,” said Carme Arcarazo, a representative of the protesters.
According to El País, the situation in Barcelona’s housing market is becoming increasingly difficult, as homes are being used for tourism and foreigners are buying many properties in the city.
In recent months, similar protests have been held in other cities and islands across Spain, with some calling for an end to mass tourism. /REL/
