Canary Islands: Housing protests end with two sit-ins

Thousands of Canarians took to the streets this Saturday to speak out against property speculation, demand the right to housing, lambast the political class and express their support for the call for a general strike.

Demonstrations were held in both Canary Islands capitals, with a heavy police presence, and took place without incident. Both ended with a sit-in outside the headquarters of the regional government before the protesters returned to their camps.

Young people, those not so young, and families with children have held up banners and chanted all sorts of slogans, but with one common thread: the recognition of housing as a right rather than a business.

Housing protests: Las Palmas calls for rent controls

In Las Palmas, slogans such as ‚Out with the vultures‘, ‚Being a rentier isn’t a job‘, ‚Tourism thrives, the people scrape by‘, ‚Monopoly is played on a board‘, ‚My neighbourhood isn’t your business, complicit government‘ and ‚Clavijo, give me shelter‘ have been heard.

Javier Marrero, spokesperson for Derecho al Techo, explained that one of the messages of this demonstration is explicitly directed at the Canary Islands Government, which bears «a great deal of responsibility» for the housing crisis because it also «has powers in this area».

Starting with the designation of high-demand areas, through which «we would reclaim a great many properties, homes that would then become residential», and through which «we could begin to control rent prices».

Marrero has stated that Congress’s rejection of the ‚Maricarmen decrees‘ «outraged us», not only because of the outcome of the vote but also because «the speeches made by many politicians in Congress gave the impression that they were not talking about people or for the benefit of people; it seemed as though they were only talking about material issues and their party interests».

He welcomed the fact that CC ultimately ended up supporting one of the two decrees, which he attributed to «pressure from the streets», where «people are realising that the problem of evictions and housing is not an individual issue but a structural one» and that «the right to a roof over one’s head is essential».

In any case, and in view of the final result of the vote in Parliament, «we believe that we must move towards a general strike», for which the trade unions «have the social support and the grassroots backing».

Santa Cruz: Protesters condemn speculation and the pursuit of profit

At the demonstration in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, several thousand people protested against rent-seeking, «the new feudalism»; issued a warning, «there is no shortage of houses, there are too many speculators», and voiced their anger: «Progressive government, rent-seeking accomplice» and «Coalición Canaria is a property development company».

In fact, the barbs have been flying in all directions, including at the parties that voted against the ‚Maricarmen decrees‘, which «have proved unable to live up to the people’s demands», but only to those of «the vulture funds that they continue to protect through all their measures».

This was stated in comments to the media by David González, spokesperson for the Tenerife Tenants‘ Union, who welcomed the fact that many local residents had joined the demonstration and that some had visited the camp in Plaza de España over the past few days to bring them food and water.

«Society, the working class of the Canary Islands, is very aware of what is happening,» said González, who went on to mention «small property owners», who «are not affected by any of the proposed measures and are part of our struggle».

The tent camp on Plaza de España will remain open for the time being

«This is just a turning point from which we are going to achieve a great deal,» declared the spokesperson for the Tenants‘ Union, who admitted that «it is proving difficult» to decide whether to keep the camp in Plaza de España or to clear it, as «more and more people are arriving».

«But whatever happens, the important thing is that we will remain organised» and from now on they intend to «devote all our effort and energy so that, if all the trade unions across the country are able to bring down a government that claims to be progressive, here in the Canary Islands we plan to do the same with a CC and PP government».

And in the background, the possibility of a general strike: «It is an option we have not ruled out,» he warned.