Tens of thousands march across Spain for renter protection

Tens of thousands marched across Spanish cities on October 3 demanding stronger renter protection; in Valencia, police clashed with demonstrators who breached the perimeter of a property summit. The wave was sparked by the eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal from the Madrid home where she had lived for seven decades; she later reached an agreement to return. A day earlier, parliament rejected emergency measures covering eviction restrictions, speculation and longer leases. Spain's government says 26% of renters spend an average 40% of income on rent and utilities, while public rental homes make up less than 2% of available stock versus an EU average of 8%. The protests and cost figures are clear; the policy path is not.