Tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid on Saturday to protest the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who had lived in her apartment in the upscale Retiro neighborhood for over seven decades. The demonstrators are demanding stronger tenant protections, measures to combat fraud, and a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable. Many protesters refused to leave after Saturday's march and pitched tents in Puerta del Sol for the night.
Abascal was carried from her apartment on a stretcher and placed in an ambulance on September 23 as supporters chanted her nickname, "Maricarmen." Images of the eviction spread widely across Spain, fueling outrage and criticism of public authorities and real estate investment companies accused of pricing residents out of their homes. Abascal had lived in the apartment since her parents first rented it in 1956 and had remained there as a tenant under rent controls after her parents died.
The building changed ownership in 2018, and Abascal was offered the opportunity to buy the apartment but could not afford it. The new owner, Urbagestión, an investment fund, raised her monthly rent from 500 euros to 2,650 euros and later lowered it to 1,650 euros, which Abascal still could not afford on her pension. Rising costs and a growing housing shortage are pricing many Spaniards out of the market, despite strong economic growth in Europe's fourth-largest economy.
Incomes have not kept pace with the rising housing costs, and analysts say tourism and immigration-driven population growth in cities have placed further pressure on the limited housing supply. The Bank of Spain estimated that the country had a shortage of about 550,000 homes last year, with Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia accounting for a substantial share. This shortage has led to increased frustration among Spaniards who are struggling to find affordable housing.
The demonstrations in the symbolic Madrid plaza this weekend reminded many in Spain of the historic demonstrations starting May 15, 2011, when members of the "indignados movement" camped for 28 days straight, sparking similar sit-ins across the country and the world. That movement was a reaction to evictions and other issues following a global economic crisis, including unemployment, austerity measures, and corruption.
Spain's Socialist-led government is expected to announce new measures in its weekly cabinet meeting next Tuesday. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed Abascal directly, saying the government is working around the clock to bring a Royal Decree on housing. He asked parliamentary groups to make one last effort to have it validated in the National Parliament for Abascal. Abascal has criticized Sánchez and blamed him for her ordeal.
Spain ranks near the bottom of countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development for subsidized public rental housing, which represents less than 2% of the country's housing stock. The European Union average is 8%. Protesters are demanding that the government takes action to address the housing crisis, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to their demands.
Key points
- The protests were sparked by the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who had lived in her apartment for over seven decades.
- The demonstrators are demanding stronger tenant protections, measures to combat fraud, and a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable.
- Spain has a shortage of about 550,000 homes, with Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia accounting for a substantial share.
