At midday, protesters forced Bertrand Ndongo, a familiar face from Spain’s far-right scene, out of Puerta del Sol. Shouts of “Fascists out of our neighborhoods” rang out as people closed in around him and drove him from the square.
El Diario and other outlets reported that demonstrators followed Ndongo down Calle del Carmen, chanting against far-right agitators. The protest focused on housing: RTVE and Euronews described a mass mobilization against evictions and Spain’s housing crisis. Protesters called for a rent freeze and stronger tenant rights. Thousands had marched earlier, and the demonstration turned into an overnight camp in the square. The Delegación del Gobierno put participation in the Madrid demonstration at around 25,000.
People poured out of their tents and formed a wall in front of Ndongo. Some reports mentioned pepper spray. El Diario said protesters remained peaceful, and there is no solid proof that anyone threatened to use spray. The crowd pushed Ndongo down Calle del Carmen until he reached Plaza del Callao.
Ndongo tried to shout back: “This is Spain, the square is not yours. You have to go to work.” The crowd stayed focused on getting him out. The clash was one flashpoint in a much larger protest over housing rights.
The scene shifted quickly as protesters acted together in a tense basic Madrid atmosphere. Their effort to remove Ndongo underscored tensions over protests and public safety. El Independiente and other newsrooms reported that the incident deepened the political dispute between Madrid’s city council and the central government. Local officials accused the Delegación del Gobierno of standing by as the encampment and protest route continued unchecked. central government officials maintain that, without public disorder, the National Police are not required to intervene in the encampment; the city council continues to press for stricter oversight of the protest.
The confrontation raised questions about the line between protest and public order in Madrid’s most visible square. The camp remains, and the political dispute over housing and protest rules continues, as AFP and other agencies have reported.
