The Tenants' Union maintains the encampment in Madrid and fires at Sánchez: "We want indefinite rental contracts"

MadridThe Puerta del Sol in Madrid woke up this morning with the usual hustle and bustle of tourists, but with an image unseen for fifteen years: the tents of protesters for the right to housing have been set up since this Saturday night in the middle of the square, emulating the 15-M movement, and they intend to stay there at least until Tuesday, when they are demanding 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 a 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 herself: she remarked that the crudest expression of the housing problem is evictions, but that all tenants fear receiving a certified letter (burofax) 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 are still governing this country," she stated.

In this way, she fired shots at the socialists, who have been governing the State for eight years while polls continue to indicate that the population's main problem is housing. Mind you, Río avoided attacking the minority partner of the coalition 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 potential regulation the "Maricarmen decree," since it was the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal in Madrid on Wednesday that triggered the outrage on the streets.

"The wave of indignation and rage is now unstoppable. This encampment is a success and we will keep going because it is the least we can do after everything we have endured these years. We encourage people to come and keep 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 sleeping at the Puerta del Sol. The organization has set up a supply center in the middle of the square, with food and water, while the 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 at Plaça Catalunya, or the same Puerta del Sol, now more than a decade ago. For example, early this Sunday there has been yoga, a protest in favor of public education at noon, a non-violent direct action workshop, banner making or, already at night, a massive writing of letters to Maricarmen Abascal is planned, who remains at the Gregorio Marañón hospital after she was evicted from her home on Wednesday.

However, when asked if we are facing a new 15-M, the spokesperson for the Tenants' Union 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 goal, 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, already in stoppage time for next year's new Spanish elections. Podemos has rushed to make an appearance: Irene Montero, candidate for the upcoming elections, and the party's general secretary, Ione Belarra, have called for pressure on the Spanish government so that the decree-law goes further than what Junts and the PNV accept, even though they are essential for it to be validated in the Congress of Deputies and, therefore, last more than a month—which is the time available for a decree-law that enters into force immediately to also be endorsed by the lower house.

"The mobilization must grow. We need to expropriate housing from vulture funds, prohibit speculation, and lower rent prices. The government is negotiating with Junts and the PNV to do the same as always, which is to ignore all the people who take to the streets to defend the right to housing," said Montero in statements to the media.

For now, the pro-independence supporters have proposed prohibiting evictions by vulture funds and also the purchase of housing by these entities, but they ask that the extension of rental contracts be voluntary. "We must ensure that small landlords have legal certainty and tax incentives to put apartments on the rental market," said the general secretary of Junts, Jordi Turull, to El Nacional, something he considers "not at odds with stopping the vulture funds in their tracks." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing asserts that it is working to present a regulation on Tuesday to the Council of Ministers.

The electoral competition between the left-wing parties was evident this Sunday at the very encampment in Puerta del Sol. A group of young people was arguing with an elderly couple about who was to blame for the situation. "It was the government delegation, the PSOE, that sent the police to carry out Maricarmen's eviction," expressed 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 presidential building of the Community of Madrid 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".

The frustration

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 that generation that was promised that if they worked hard and studied, they would have a better life. Both Adela and Claudia 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, while the other studied marketing and now works on documentary projects. "The salary isn't enough to move out," asserts Adela, illustrating one of the main problems for young people today. They believe the solution only comes through "one person, one house," and that is why they will stay at Puerta del Sol for as long as it takes.