Number of households owning their own home falls by 22 percent over medium-term, Spanish doctors set for further walk-outs, and more news from Spain on Monday April 27th.
Number of households owning their own home falls by 22 percent
Households with a single property in Spain fell by 22 percent in the period from 2008-2022, new property data shows.
According to the report The problem of property concentration in Spain, published by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the Spanish National Research Council (IFS-CSIC), this drop comes as households with two or more properties grew by 54 percent in the same period.
The report also notes that the proportion of households living in rented accommodation has risen from 11.9 percent to 19.2 percent over the same period.
Large property owners, considered those with more than ten properties, have seen their share increase by 35.3 percent. Within that group, homeowners have quadrupled their portfolio, with holdings rising from 138,000 to 626,000 properties.
Spanish police deaths at 22 for 2025, the highest figure in six years
Twenty-two people died in Spain last year during “police operations or interventions”, according to details provided by the Ministry of the Interior in a parliamentary response to Basque party EH Bildu, to which Spanish daily El País has had access.
The toll is by far the highest recorded in the last six years. In 2024, the figure was half that, at 11; in 2023 and 2022, it stood at 15 in each year; whilst in 2021 there were six deaths and in 2020, the year of pandemic lockdown, there were 7 fatalities.
In total, over these six years, the Ministry of the Interior acknowledges 77 deaths. Of these, 43 occurred during operations by the National Police and the remaining 34 by the armed forces. The figures do not include deaths occurring during operations by regional bodies such as the Ertzaintza and Mossos d’Esquadra, nor local police forces.
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Spanish doctors set for further walk-outs
Spanish doctors are to once again take strike action this week, with walkouts scheduled from Monday April 27th-30th across the country.
This comes following failed negotiations between unions and employers. “The lack of genuine proposals addressing the main demands of the medical profession has led the Strike Committee to maintain the schedule of industrial action as set out last January, with one week of strike action per month until at least next June,” said a committee representing various doctors groups.
The next strikes are scheduled for the week of 18–22nd May, and another from 15–19th June.
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Zaragoza goalkeeper faces ban for punch which sparked brawl
Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada faces a long ban for punching a Huesca player in the face, having already been sent off in a match in Spain’s second tier on Sunday.
The Argentina international, 35, pushed over Jorge Pulido and was dismissed for the incident, and then became enraged, running to hit Pulido and sparking a brawl on the pitch in stoppage time of the derby clash.
Huesca goalkeeper Dani Jimenez and Zaragoza’s Dani Tasende were also sent off in the aftermath, with hosts Huesca holding on for a 1-0 win.
Andrada, on loan from Mexican side Monterrey, could be banned for up to 12 matches for the punch as well as the obligatory one-match sanction for his red card.
“We witnessed scenes unbecoming of this sport and which should never have occurred,” said Zaragoza in a statement.
“The club strongly condemns what happened in that moment, which has unacceptably tarnished a football match of special importance for our region, something that is unacceptable.
“Regarding our player Esteban Andrada, the club will analyse the events that occurred and take the appropriate disciplinary measures.”
Both Zaragoza and Huesca are in the relegation zone and fighting demotion to Spain’s third tier.
With additional reporting from AFP.
