El movimiento social Málaga para Vivir convoca una manifestación este sábado 27 de junio en el centro de la capital para exigir viviendas asequibles y salarios dignos.
The housing crisis in Malaga will take to the streets again this Saturday. Málaga para Vivir, the social movement that has been mobilizing for months, has called for a demonstration starting at 11:30 am from the Plaza de la Merced. Under the slogan 'Neither skyrocketing rents nor rock-bottom wages', the protesters will walk a short route through the historic center, ending at the Plaza de la Constitución.
This is the fourth march organized by the collective, the previous one taking place on April 5, 2025. On that occasion, the march covered a longer distance, from the Plaza de la Merced to the Parque de Huelin, to include residents from neighborhoods beyond the city center. This time, however, the route is significantly reduced due to restrictions imposed by the Government Sub-delegation, according to the organizers.
'The entire route will be pedestrian,' lamented Lula Amir, one of the spokespersons for Málaga para Vivir, criticizing that the demonstration will not disrupt road traffic, which is often a key aspect of protests seeking visibility. Amir also complained that the City Council has not provided technical means, such as electricity, for the reading of the manifesto at the Plaza de la Constitución.
The movement demands urgent measures to address the housing affordability crisis that has worsened in recent years in Malaga, one of the Spanish cities where rents have risen most sharply. According to data from the portal Idealista, the average rent in the city has increased by more than 40% since 2020, while salaries remain far below the cost of living. The protesters call for an expansion of public housing stock, rent caps, and better wages.
Málaga para Vivir brings together various social and political groups, including Izquierda Unida, CCOO, UGT, and the PSOE, as well as independent activists. The movement has also denounced the conversion of residential buildings into tourist apartments, which reduces the availability of long-term rentals. 'We cannot allow the city to become a theme park for tourists while residents are forced to leave,' added Amir.
The demonstration comes ahead of the municipal elections scheduled for May 2027, and the housing crisis is expected to be a central campaign issue. The City Council, led by the Popular Party, has defended its policies to promote tourism and construction but has acknowledged the need to intervene in the housing market. Meanwhile, opposition groups have criticized the lack of effective action.
The march will begin at Plaza de la Merced, continue along Alcazabilla, Aduana, Cortina del Muelle, and Larios street, and finish at Plaza de la Constitución. The organizers have called on participants to bring banners and noise-makers to make their voices heard. The demonstration is expected to last until early afternoon, and the manifesto will be read at the final point.
In a region where tourism drives the economy, the clash between economic development and residents' rights has become increasingly prominent. Similar protests have taken place in other Spanish cities like Barcelona and Valencia. For now, Malaga para Vivir plans to keep up the pressure, with future mobilizations already in the pipeline.
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