"A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda."
God helps those who rise early.
Thursday dawns under a heat dome that has settled over central Spain, with thermometers expected to hit 35°C by mid-afternoon. The Feria del Libro opens tomorrow in El Retiro Park with Bogotá as guest of honour — casetas are stocked and authors are arriving from across the Spanish-speaking world. Meanwhile, the city's social landscape is shifting: teachers prepare for a fight over public education funding, the streets have echoed with demands for affordable housing, and one of Gran Vía's most iconic skyscrapers has changed hands. Summer in Madrid is here, and the city is alive with stories.
UGT and CCOO have called an indefinite strike for all non-university public education staff in the Community of Madrid, set to begin in September 2026. The unions demand salary equalisation with the national average, a maximum 18-hour teaching week in secondary schools, reduction to 23 hours in primary education, lower class ratios, and a genuine budget commitment to public education. Madrid's teachers are among the lowest-paid in Spain despite the region having the highest per capita income. The Education Ministry has been urged to open negotiations over the summer to avert the walkout.
Thousands of protesters marched through central Madrid on Sunday under the slogan 'La vivienda nos cuesta la vida — Lower rents,' organised by the Madrid Tenants' Union with backing from UGT and CCOO. Speakers highlighted that rents and property prices have surged in recent years, with young people and families struggling to afford homes in the capital. The protest followed a separate large demonstration against the Sánchez government over corruption allegations. A decree to extend temporary rent freezes recently failed in parliament, deepening concerns that political gridlock is worsening the housing crisis.
A powerful heat dome over western Europe is pushing temperatures to near-record levels for late May. Madrid is forecast to hit 35°C today, its hottest day of the year so far, with Seville potentially reaching 37°C. The heatwave is expected to persist through the end of the week with clear skies and light winds across most of the mainland. Health authorities have issued recommendations for hydration and sun protection, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable. The warm conditions come as the Feria del Libro prepares to open in Retiro, where organisers expect strong turnout despite the heat.
Telefónica has sold its iconic Gran Vía 28 skyscraper — for decades the symbolic heart of the telecom giant in Madrid — to Murcian businessman Tomás Olivo for approximately €200 million. The building, one of the first skyscrapers in Europe and listed with the highest level of heritage protection, will now face delicate negotiations with the Madrid City Council over its future use. Olivo, one of Spain's wealthiest individuals, already owns shopping centres in Madrid and holds major stakes in Spanish banks. The sale is part of Telefónica's strategy to slim down its property portfolio in a shifting telecom landscape.