Tent encampments have emerged in Spain's largest cities as thousands of people demand a solution to the national housing meltdown. Protests expanded to Barcelona after the forced eviction of an 87 year old woman from her apartment in Madrid last week, prompting tens of thousands of demonstrators to march through the capital and call for the resignation of regional housing authorities.

Maricarmen Abascal is regaining her home of 71 years after real estate developer Urbagestión agreed to waive a 275% rent hike that would have pushed her costs to up to €2,650 per month, far exceeding her disability pension of €1,350. To address the unrest, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez plans to present a housing decree to the Council of Ministers this Tuesday that may include the forced extension of rental contracts until 2028.