Thousands march in Madrid to protest Spain's housing crisis after eviction of 87-year-old woman

On September 26, thousands of people gathered in Madrid to protest the eviction of an 87-year-old woman named Maricarmen Abascal from her lifelong home. The eviction, which resulted from a 275% rent hike, has sparked outrage and brought Spain's housing crisis back into the public eye ahead of the 2027 general election. Images of Maricarmen being carried from her flat on a stretcher after police broke down her door have emphasized the urgency of the issue.

Protesters, carrying keys, whistles, banners, and chanting slogans, marched through central Madrid to advocate for stricter tenant protections and to curb rising housing costs. They warned that "you could be the next Maricarmen" and urged Spaniards to join the protest in a video message by Abascal herself.

Government officials estimated the turnout at around 25,000, while organizers claimed 300,000 participated. Alicia del Rio, a spokesperson for the Madrid Tenants Union, called the event a turning point and urged Spaniards to join the fight to change laws that allowed Abascal's eviction. The eviction has highlighted the unsustainable housing situation in Spain, where rents outpace salaries and the housing market is deemed "impossible" by many.

Pedro Sanchez, the Socialist Prime Minister who pledged to prioritize housing, is under pressure to act. The government is expected to approve a package of measures, dubbed the "Maricarmen decree," which includes automatic renewal of rental contracts and stricter eviction restrictions. However, the package's approval in parliament remains uncertain, as Sanchez's government lacks a majority. Spain's housing shortage stands at around 700,000 homes, with rents being driven up by tourism, immigration, and population growth.