A 48-hour deadline is expiring as the Madrid regional government asks a judge to remove the housing camp from Puerta del Sol. Isabel Díaz Ayuso is challenging the Government delegate's refusal to order its removal, while police say they will not enter the square unless public-order problems develop.
A 48-hour deadline set by the Madrid regional government is due to expire. Isabel Díaz Ayuso has announced a court action over the housing protest camp in Puerta del Sol. She accused the Government delegate of refusing to clear the site.
The Community of Madrid will file a contentious-administrative appeal against what it calls the delegate's inaction. It will also request medidas cautelarísimas. That would allow a judge to consider removing the camp before the main case is decided.
The protest began on Saturday, 27 September 2026, over housing demands and pressure on the authorities to adopt a housing decree. Participants have remained camped in central Madrid for several days.
The dispute is now in court.
The regional government says the protest goes beyond the constitutional and legal limits of the right of assembly. Its case has four parts. No prior notification was submitted. The camp has a permanent and indefinite character. Officials say it creates a risk to people and property through a disturbance of public order. They also describe it as the illegal occupation of public space.
Officials in the Community say the installation disrupts the normal operation of the Real Casa de Correos, the headquarters of the regional government. They also argue that it harms Madrid's image as a quality destination and has stopped commercial activity in the centre of the capital.
Those claims appeared in the requirement sent to the Delegation of the Government on Tuesday. Madrid also cited the building's protected status as an Asset of Cultural Interest.
The National Police is not planning to enter Puerta del Sol to forcibly clear the protesters at this stage. According to reporting by El País and RTVE, intervention would be considered if public-order violations occurred, while the Delegation of the Government says the right of assembly must be respected.
The Delegation has confirmed receipt of requests from the Community of Madrid and the city council. It has not announced an eviction. Instead, it says the proper procedures are under way.
The delegation says the camp is being handled in full respect of the law. It has also stressed its duty to protect public safety and the Real Casa de Correos.
The disagreement remains.
Madrid wants police action against the camp. The Government delegate has so far defended the legality of the process and the right of assembly. The court filing seeks a ruling on who must decide the camp's fate.
The camp could grow. Several protesters told EFE that they are considering extending it into nearby Arenal and Mayor streets if more tents arrive. That would put more pressure on the same public space that Madrid says is already affecting government operations and businesses.
The housing crisis is being fought on two fronts. One is the protest in Puerta del Sol. The other is the institutional dispute over who controls the next step.
The conflict follows earlier clashes over housing policy, including the concerns described in an earlier housing dispute.
For now, the facts point to a legal confrontation rather than an agreed administrative solution. The Community has asked for the strongest interim judicial measures available in this case. The Delegation says its actions comply with the law.
Until a court rules, the camp remains at the centre of the dispute. The proposed move towards Arenal and Mayor streets could widen the conflict. Madrid's decision shows that the regional government will not accept the camp's continuation without judicial scrutiny.
The city government has also called for normality to return to the square. That adds further political pressure.
