Politics · Spain · 6 hrs ago
Sol housing protest begins planning a gradual end to its encampment
After four weeks in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, housing protesters are planning to leave their encampment in stages.
The protest began after Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman, was evicted from her home and later died.
Protesters say they removed tents from nearby streets to reduce disruption for local businesses, which have reported lost sales.
Organizers are working on a shared plan for a gradual, agreed withdrawal, including clearing the square and sending surplus donations to other groups.
They also need to consider the people without homes who have been sleeping and eating at the camp.
Some protesters want to stay, and no official departure date has been announced.
The group is also looking toward Spain’s planned 11 November general strike, though accounts differ on whether the encampment may last until then.
Protesters at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol are planning a gradual, agreed end to their housing-rights encampment.
They have removed tents from nearby Arenal and Preciados streets to avoid inconveniencing local businesses.
Organizers are preparing a manifesto to guide the wind-down and help transfer the movement’s activity to neighbourhoods.
The encampment has lasted four weeks and began after the eviction and later death of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman.
Plans also need to address the needs of people without homes who have been relying on the camp for shelter and food.
- Who
- Protesters in the Acampada 26S encampment in Madrid.
- What
- They are preparing a gradual, agreed wind-down of their housing-rights protest.
- When
- The encampment had lasted four weeks as of 25 October 2026; no official end date had been announced.
- Where
- Puerta del Sol, central Madrid, Spain.
- Why
- The protest calls for solutions to the housing crisis and followed the eviction and later death of Maricarmen Abascal.
Local business owners
Encampment organizers
Economic impact
Local business owners
Many businesses complained that the occupation had caused economic harm through falling sales.
Encampment organizers
Organizers said they removed tents from Arenal and Preciados streets to avoid inconveniencing businesses.
Whether to end the camp
Local business owners
Not stated.
Encampment organizers
Organizers are planning a gradual wind-down, though some groups within the encampment have argued for staying.
Young protesters set up camp in Puerta del Sol to protest the housing crisis.
Campers discussed the future of the protest in assemblies.
Campers had removed tents from Arenal and Preciados streets and were working on a manifesto for a gradual wind-down.
The planned general strike was identified by some campers as a point to remain until and a focus for the movement.
- Location
- Puerta del Sol, Madrid
- Duration
- Four weeks as of 25 October 2026
- Tents removed
- Streets of Arenal and Preciados
- Manifesto
- Intended as a roadmap for an agreed, gradual wind-down
- General strike
- 11 November 2026
3 sources
Los acampados de Sol retiran algunas tiendas para evitar molestias a comerciantes y preparan una desescalada para levantar el campamento
Sol prepara su adiós: comienza a organizarse la marcha de los jóvenes a falta de fecha y anuncio oficial
¿Cuándo terminará la acampada en Sol? La protesta supera la del 15M
What people are saying
Today is day zero, we are planning how to do it
We have to go step by step, for now until the general strike and make the most of the first strike in more than a decade
Coming from 15M, which was very political, this has become something more social