Zurich protesters denounce rising rents and luxury renovations

Several hundred protesters braved heavy rain in Zurich on Saturday for an unauthorised housing march denouncing “luxury renovations, wrecking balls and rising rents.” The demonstration, part of growing tenant activism in Swiss cities, reflected anger over real estate speculation and displacement amid Zurich’s tightening housing market. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox It was organised by the Wohndemo-Bündnis (a housing protest alliance) and left-wing alternative circles. They deliberately did not apply for a permit. "Real estate sharks won't ask us even if they raise our rent or demolish our homes," they wrote on the Wohndemo website. + Swiss rents forecast to rise up to 5% annually On social media, it was said that the protest should be "colourful, loud and creative" and that confrontation was not being sought. Nevertheless, riots were feared, partly due to the intensisty of a pro-Palestine demonstration in Bern and an "uninvited visit" by masked ...