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Spain eviction triggers mass protests That's why the conflict quickly spread throughout the country, reaching dozens of other cities. This Monday, massive demonstrations took place in Barcelona, where thousands took to the streets during Pedro Sánchez's visit to the city, where he traveled to meet with the business elite. The protesters made it clear that they would not accept any measures that did not directly address the housing problem, chanting "Where is the progressive government?" But that's not all: in Andalusia there were demonstrations in Seville, Malaga, Cadiz, Cordoba, and Huelva, and protests are expected this Tuesday in Almeria. In many of these cases, the actions were organized by the Tenants' Union and resulted in encampments in city centers. In Málaga, the massive demonstration marched through the city center and concluded in the Plaza de la Constitución, where a group of protesters attempted to set up camp in support of the nationwide housing protests. There were tense moments with the police, but the demonstrators ultimately forced them to withdraw. There are also encampments and actions in cities such as Valencia, Zaragoza, Murcia, Palma, Murcia, Vigo, Cordoba, Alicante or Santiago de Compostela, among others. This Tuesday, the "progressive" government attempted to maneuver to deflect the movement. Specifically, it presented two decrees that will be debated this Friday in Congress. On the one hand, it approved a Royal Decree on housing, agreed upon with the reformist left and Junts, which is in reality a sham decree, a very limited response intended to give the appearance of addressing the movement, but leaving many of the pillars of the speculative housing market intact. Specifically, it fails to address the most important demand of the Tenants' Union, included in the so-called "Maricarmen Decree," which is to end permanent temporary rental contracts. The union argues that if there is an indefinite employment contract, why can't there be an indefinite housing contract? The measure also fails to impose a rent freeze, a ban on evictions, or address the issue of vacant properties owned by large landlords. The other decree, which includes demands such as the automatic renewal of rental contracts, is expected to be overturned by the right wing. In other words, a decree made solely for appearances. The Revolutionary Workers' Current (CRT) and Izquierda Diario España argue that the response must be greater mobilization: "demonstrating and surrounding Congress this Friday, filling the demonstrations this weekend throughout the country, and preparing a plan of action that demands a general strike from the major unions for all of these demands." In this sense, they argue that the struggle cannot end that day, since the housing crisis will not be resolved regardless of the outcome of the vote, because no decree is being put to a vote that takes substantive measures or compels the Autonomous Communities to implement the few measures that partially protect tenants. The question that arises is how to build the necessary strength to achieve all their demands. In this regard, they highlight the call made by the grassroots union Comisiones Obreras (Co.Bas) that "Trade unions, starting with the major ones CCOO and UGT, or ELA-STV and CIG, have an obligation to respond to this reality and promote the response that is already being demanded in the streets, especially by young people. The call for a strike in education can and should facilitate this convergence and coordination of struggles, thus strengthening a General Strike." In this sense, they call "on the Tenants' Union and the Platform of People Affected by Mortgages (PAH) to convene an urgent meeting of all unions, all student organizations, and all groups within the educational community to organize a united general response, which we understand must be a general strike." Meanwhile, the opposition Popular Party (which governs Madrid City Council) is demanding the repression of the movement and the eviction of the encampment in the center of Madrid, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum. This threat comes after several far-right provocateurs appeared at the encampment in front of the Puerta del Sol in recent days, attacking the protesters before ultimately being expelled. However, the enormous strength of the mobilization in the streets clearly demonstrates the fighting spirit of a movement that will not be intimidated by these kinds of provocations. For example, faced with the threat from far-right groups to clear the square, a massive assembly proclaimed that "Madrid will be the tomb of fascism." As our comrade Lucía Nistal of the Revolutionary Workers' Current (CRT) pointed out at the Puerta del Sol assembly this Tuesday night, "I think we need to be very clear: the force we are deploying here and in other cities across the state is not going to go home because of a decree, because of a double false decree. Once again, the progressive government is selling us a measure as if it will actually solve something when we can see very clearly that it won't. We are not going to be fooled again (...) I propose, comrades, that we stay here until Friday. That from every institute, from every university, the unions call for people to surround Congress and make them utterly ashamed. Ashamed to vote in favor. And not only that, that's not enough for us, because we need to lower rents, we need wages to be linked. We need to stop evictions, and that requires putting all our strength on the line. And what is the greatest force that What do we have? We've said it here many times: a general strike. But it's important to make it a reality, and I believe that with all the strength we have here in this square, with the strength of our comrades, we have to force the union bureaucracies to sit down and not get up until they call a general strike. Come on, let's stay. https://www.laizquierdadiario.com/Estado-espanol-exploto-la-bronca-contra-los-desalojos-y-hay-movilizaciones-en-todo-el-pais? Back |
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