Camped at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid: "It is the PSOE's fault"

MadridMadrid's Puerta del Sol woke up this morning with the usual bustle of tourists, but with an unprecedented image not seen for fifteen years: tents of protesters for the right to housing have been pitched since Saturday night in the middle of the square, emulating the 15-M movement of 2011. They intend to stay at least until Tuesday, which is when they demand that the Council of Ministers presided over by Pedro Sánchez approve a decree-law that resolves the housing problem.

What are they asking for? The spokesperson for the Madrid Tenants' Union, Alicia del Río, was in charge of giving it words and voice: "We want indefinite rental contracts," she demanded in statements to the media. "What problem does Pedro Sánchez and the PSOE have with people having a stable life?" she added, and made it clear that, in the Union's opinion, this would be the primary measure of the new decree-law.

Del Río explained: she remarked that the crudest expression of the housing problem is evictions, but that all tenants fear receiving a certified letter from the landlord announcing either that they are increasing the rent or that they are not renewing the contract. "If this is not approved, it means that vulture funds continue to govern this country," she stated.

In this way, she fired at the socialists, who have been governing the State for eight years while polls stubbornly indicate that the population's main problem is housing. Mind you, Del Río avoided attacking the coalition's minority partner directly, Sumar, which is pressuring the PSOE so that a broad decree-law is approved on Tuesday that incorporates what the Tenants' Union is asking for, as well as the "protection of families against evictions." The protesters have dubbed this possible rule the "Maricarmen decree," since it was allegedly the eviction on Wednesday in Madrid of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal that triggered the indignation in the streets.

"The wave of indignation and rage is already unstoppable. This encampment is a success and we will continue forward because it is the least we can do after everything we have endured these years. We encourage people to come and continue applying pressure," said Alicia del Río, who was applauded by the dozens of young people who, surrounding the media, were listening to her.

Several hundred people have spent the night at Puerta del Sol. The organization has set up a supply center in the middle of the square, with food and water, and tents have been distributed in concentric circles around it. The idea is to carry out activities throughout the day, just as it happened during the 15-M movement in Plaça Catalunya, or at the Puerta del Sol itself, more than a decade ago now. For example, early this Sunday there was yoga; at noon, a protest in favor of public education –which brought together some 20,000 people, according to the Government Delegation–; later, a workshop on non-violent direct action and banner making, and at night there is a massive letter-writing session planned for Maricarmen Abascal –who remains at the Gregorio Marañón hospital after being evicted from her home on Wednesday–.

However, regarding whether we are facing a new 15-M, the spokesperson for the Tenants' Union has avoided a direct comparison. "There are similar things because this is a popular outburst, a social outcry in the face of discontent. But we have a very concrete objective, this is not an indefinite encampment," she asserted, insisting on the fact that the housing decree-law must incorporate the automatic renewal of the rental contract. In this sense, she asked "not to pigeonhole" this encampment and compared it to other historical moments such as the La Canadiense strike, when the eight-hour workday was achieved for workers.

Competition within the left

The encampment at Puerta del Sol is a social movement that all left-wing parties are trying to capitalize on, now in injury time for the new Spanish elections next year. Podemos has rushed to support it, and so has Sumar. This electoral competition was evident this Sunday in the Madrid square. A group of young people was arguing with an elderly couple about who was to blame for the situation. "It was the Government Delegation that sent the police to carry out Maricarmen's eviction; it was the PSOE's fault," said a young camper, while the lady replied that he was very wrong: "It was the judge. The one to blame is Ayuso," she said, pointing to the Community of Madrid's presidential building in the same square. In the background, one of the banners presiding over the encampment could be seen: "PSOE and Sumar, responsible for our misery".

For Oliver, who is 25, the blame is "transversal" – although he particularly points to Junts for having struck down various measures in Congress – and he calls for collaboration at all levels of government to solve the problem. Like many other young people camping in the square, he lives with his parents, his salary is not enough to pay rent, and he sees it as impossible to ever become a homeowner. For 73-year-old Victoria, who mainly points to Ayuso, this cannot continue like this either: "Luckily, I own an apartment, but my grandchildren will have to wait for me to die to have one".

In one of the tents, two 27-year-old girls who spent the night at Puerta del Sol are sitting and talking patiently. "We feel cheated," they confess, as they are part of the generation that was promised that if they worked hard and studied, they would have a better life. Both Adela and Claudia also live with their parents, even though both have degrees and have had stable employment contracts. One studied audiovisual communication but now works as an administrative assistant, and the other studied marketing and now does projects for documentaries. "The salary isn't enough to become independent," asserts Adela, summarizing the problem of an entire generation. They believe the only solution is "one person, one house," and that is why they will stay at Puerta del Sol for as long as it takes.