Demonstrators camping in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol have declared they will not leave, challenging the government’s latest housing decrees and demanding real change. Organizers warn that dividing reforms will only fuel further unrest.
Night falls on Puerta del Sol. The square is still packed. A spokesperson from Izquierda Revolucionaria climbs onto a bench and shouts: “De aquí no se mueve ni Dios.” The crowd answers right away. “No nos vamos, nos quedamos.” No one is backing down. This protest is dug in.
On September 29, 2026, the government approved two new housing decrees. That did not move the demonstrators. Their tents and banners still fill the square. The Council of Ministers’ latest laws have not convinced anyone here. The decrees now wait for a vote in Congress. The ruling coalition does not have a majority. Protesters say nothing has changed. The Guardian and Euronews both reported on the standoff.
The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen in Madrid became the catalyst for the current wave of protests and the establishment of the Puerta del Sol encampment.
The decrees are a mix of promises. The first one blocks evictions until 2030. It sets new rules for seasonal and room rentals. It bans property sales to so-called “vulture funds” until 2028. Rental contracts ending before December 2028 get a two-year extension. There are also new tax measures. The second decree is narrower. It only covers automatic rental extensions. Sumar pushed for this, but the government admits it did not negotiate the details with other parties. Demócrata and NPR note that the ban on fund purchases has exceptions. Social housing and some vulnerable groups are not covered by the ban.
For activists in Sol, this is not enough. The Sindicato de Inquilinas cheered when “Maricarmen” returned home. More camps have sprung up across Spain. Still, the union is wary. They accuse the government of breaking reforms into “crumbs.” They want the “decreto Maricarmen” passed in full. Not a single comma changed. El País reported that the tenants' union has rejected splitting the reforms. They keep rallying in the square. Their demand is simple. Pass the whole package, no amendments.
Podemos and Junts have not said how they will vote. Podemos has slammed the government for splitting the measures. No one knows if the decrees will pass. The coalition cannot count on a majority. The Guardian says the outcome is wide open. Protesters are digging in. The political games only make them more determined.
The protest camp at Puerta del Sol began between September 25 and 27, quickly evolving into a long-term action with participants demanding rent freezes, automatic contract renewals, and the full adoption of the 'decreto Maricarmen' without division.
Organizers have called for protests across Spain this weekend. They warn that splitting the decrees again will only make them angrier. “The more they divide, the angrier we get and the more we will respond,” a spokesperson said. Patience is running out.
The authorities are watching. The Community of Madrid has told the national government to clear the square within 48 hours. Protest leaders say the tables have turned. “For once, they are the ones who are afraid. The beautiful thing is seeing that they are the ones trembling.”
Friday’s parliamentary session will decide the fate of the housing decrees. The demonstrators are not moving. They want to see the full text. Every comma matters. Until then, Sol stays occupied. The government faces a test. Its credibility is on the line.
This fight over housing in Madrid is not isolated. It echoes other policy battles, like those in a recent report on migration policy shifts. The Sol encampment shows that many Spaniards are done with half-measures. They want real change. The government’s next move will show if it stands with the working class or bows to pressure from powerful interests. What happens in Sol will shape Spain’s future social contract.
