Murcia Housing Protesters March to San Esteban Demanding Protections

Murcia Streets Erupt After Madrid Eviction

The mobilization follows the eviction of an octogenarian named Maricarmen in Madrid, which sparked political debate across Spain. In Murcia, protesters gathered for a second day outside San Esteban, the seat of the executive led by Fernando López Miras. The previous day’s demonstration took place in front of the Government Delegation of the Region of Murcia, drawing approximately 200 participants who chanted slogans such as Vecinas unidas jamás serán vencidas and Desahucian al obrero, rescatan al banquero.

Manifesto Demands Return of Pandemic-Era Moratoriums

Following the demonstration outside San Esteban, participants read a manifesto from the platform Ni Un Desahucio Más. The group called for the reinstatement of the anti-eviction moratorium introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. That moratorium expired in February after the Partido Popular (PP), Vox, and Junts voted against its continuation in Congress. According to platform calculations, more than a million and a half rental contracts are set to expire between this year and next year.

Entre este año y el próximo vencerán más de un millón y medio de contratos de alquiler, stated the platform manifesto regarding the impending expiration of leases nationwide.

Political Alliances and Criticisms of Regional Aid

Protesters directed their criticism toward both regional and central authorities. PAH representatives argued that regional and municipal governments bear the responsibility of providing alternative housing options so that vulnerable families are not left unprotected on the street. They also called on the Ministry of Interior to enforce United Nations precautionary measures suspending mortgage foreclosure launches instead of deploying heavy police security around vulnerable households.

The Partido Socialista de la Región de Murcia (PSRM), which participated in the demonstrations alongside the CCOO union, criticized what it termed la codicia de los fondos buitre and pledged to reintroduce a social shield decree in Congress. The party also noted that the Government Delegation mediated to secure housing alternatives for a recent eviction in Alcantarilla and halted another scheduled in Los Ramos.

Regarding regional housing subsidies, PAH criticized Fernando López Miras over youth rental aid. The platform asserted that the administration should first pay out rental subsidies pending since 2024, arguing that such grants benefit rent-seeking property owners rather than tenants and ultimately drive up rental costs when lease periods end.

Push for Tensioned Zones and Vacant Property Penalties

To curb escalating housing costs, the platform urged the regional government to declare tensioned residential zones across Murcia, Cartagena, Lorca, Molina de Segura, and Alcantarilla. Advocates argued this designation would stabilize rental prices in line with Council of Europe recommendations, which also advise fiscal penalties for owners of empty homes—estimated at numerous vacant properties within the autonomous community.

Activists also criticized Murcia’s pending affordable housing draft law, characterizing it as legislation tailored for higher earners because it sets income caps up to thousands of euros in gross annual salary for eligible applicants. Organizers vowed to continue mobilizing in the streets to defend tenants facing eviction under what they describe as an unjust housing system.