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Ten years ago, in 2016, the song “No hay tanto pan”, composed by Silvia Pérez Cruz for the film “Cerca de tu casa”, was released. The film deals with evictions following the 2008 financial crisis. Today, just a few days after Maricarmen’s eviction, at a time when the housing crisis is becoming increasingly unsustainable, the song continues to describe a reality that remains unchanged.

The song’s message encapsulates the indignation at a system that profits from the basic need for housing. The lyrics highlight the contradiction between homeless people and empty properties, and point to those ultimately responsible for a situation that is presented as inevitable. Here is an excerpt from the song:

Mentiras, sonrisas y amapolas,
discursos, periódicos, banqueros y trileros,
canciones, manos y pistolas,
bolsos, confeti, cruceros y puteros,
te roban y te gritan,
y lo que no tienes también te lo quitan.

No hay tanto pan, pan, pan.
Es indecente, es indecente,
gente sin casa, casa sin gente.

The song’s title comes from a slogan shouted during the protests of the time: “No hay pan para tanto chorizo” (“There isn’t enough bread for so many crooks”), referring to the political class, which was embroiled in numerous corruption scandals, and to the economic elites. It is this same political class, both at central government level and within the autonomous communities, that has spent years allowing access to housing to become increasingly difficult. Without putting a stop to speculation, which is the main reason why investment funds such as Urbagestión, responsible for Maricarmen’s eviction, are only interested in getting rid of long-term tenants in order to set rents at completely abusive prices and, very probably, offer temporary leases.

Ten years on, and until genuinely effective legislation is developed and approved to guarantee access to decent housing, this song remains—and will continue to remain—relevant.

Sources