Tens of thousands of people protest across Spain over housing crisis

Spanish police arrested three members of a far-right group and fired rubber bullets in Madrid on Saturday night as tens of thousands of people marched across the country demanding action on the housing crisis.

Far-right activists, some giving Nazi salutes, camped in the central square of the Spanish capital’s Puerta del Sol to try to reach demonstrators protesting the housing crisis, the Spanish government said.

Earlier, some demonstrators held posters calling for a general strike after parliament rejected measures designed to address public anger over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid and other housing issues on Friday.

“It’s a shame,” said Nando de Angulo, 26, who took part in Saturday’s protest in Madrid. “This just proves that it is we the people who have to adapt to political parties, not politicians who adapt to the wishes of the people, and we cannot continue like this.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez may call a snap election in November after failing to pass the bill, and will make a decision based on the momentum of Saturday’s protests, Spanish media reported on Friday.

Sanchez’s office declined to comment on the report.

Demonstrators clashed with police in the southeastern city of Valencia, with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas to quell the protests.

About 30 protesters entered the historic cultural complex City of Arts and Sciences, where police removed them. Other demonstrations in 50 Spanish cities were peaceful.

Valeria Lacu, a spokeswoman for the tenants’ union, told reporters in Madrid that the general strike would be carried out after consultations with trade unions.

About 70,000 people took part in Saturday’s demonstration in Madrid, according to the Spanish government.

Protests planned in Barcelona and the nearby city of Hospitalet de Llobregat were canceled due to heavy rain.