HOUSING PROTESTS TAKE TO THE STREETS IN FOUR CANARY ISLANDS

Housing protests are taking place across four Canary Islands this weekend as campaigners demand action over rents, evictions and access to affordable homes.

Demonstrations have been organised in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura today, Saturday, with a further protest scheduled in Lanzarote on Sunday.

The Canary Islands demonstrations form part of a wider weekend of housing protests across Spain following the rejection in Congress on Friday of two government decrees containing measures affecting tenants and the housing market.

Protests in Tenerife and Gran Canaria

In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a demonstration was called from the Government Subdelegation in Calle Méndez Núñez, continuing through the city centre towards the Canary Islands Government Presidency.

The mobilisation follows several days of housing protests and an encampment in Plaza de España.

In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, demonstrators were due to leave Plaza de la Feria and march through the city before reaching the regional government headquarters.

Housing campaigners have called for measures including greater protection for tenants and vulnerable households and action to address rental prices and access to housing.

Fuerteventura and Lanzarote join protests

Fuerteventura is also participating in today's mobilisation, with a demonstration called in Puerto del Rosario.

Lanzarote's protest is scheduled for Sunday between 12 noon and 2:00pm outside the old Cabildo building, Casa Amarilla, in Arrecife.

The demonstrations are being held under the slogan “Towards the general strike”, although a nationwide housing general strike has not currently been called.

Housing measures rejected in Congress

The protests follow Friday's rejection by the Spanish Congress of two government decrees containing housing measures.

The proposals covered areas including rental contracts and protections for vulnerable households facing eviction.

Housing campaign groups had supported the continuation of a number of those protections while also arguing that further measures were required.

Their rejection in Congress has prompted the organisations involved in the demonstrations to continue their campaign through protests across Spain this weekend.

Housing remains a particularly sensitive issue in the Canary Islands, where access to affordable long-term accommodation has become the focus of repeated demonstrations and political debate.