Thousands march in Madrid after 87-year-old woman evicted from lifelong home

MADRID, September 27 — Thousands of individuals gathered in Madrid to protest the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, from her lifelong home, demanding stronger tenant protections. Images of Abascal being carried from her flat on a stretcher after police forcibly entered her residence sparked a renewed focus on Spain's housing crisis prior to the upcoming 2027 general election.

Demonstrators chanted slogans, rattled keys, and held banners demanding measures to curb escalating housing costs and make evictions more challenging. One banner read, "You could be the next Maricarmen." Enrique Ortega de Miguel, a 38-year-old graphic designer, expressed the nation's housing market struggles, stating, "Finding an affordable place to live is a struggle, and you live in constant fear of being displaced."

The protest's attendance was estimated at around 25,000 by government officials and 300,000 by organizers. Alicia del Rio, a spokesperson for the Madrid Tenants' Union, declared the eviction a turning point, emphasizing the need for change. Abascal, a symbol of the housing crisis, urged Spaniards to join the protest in an online video message, emphasizing her desire to prevent similar evictions from occurring.

Forced to leave her 70-year residence due to a 275% rent hike, Abascal urged the government to take action. Despite the government's pledge to prioritize housing, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faces pressure to implement measures such as the "Maricarmen decree," which includes automatic rental renewals and eviction restrictions.

However, the package's approval remains uncertain due to the government's lack of a majority in parliament. Spain, with a population of approximately 50 million, is estimated to be lacking 700,000 homes, driven by high demand from tourism and immigration.