Protesters gathering in Madrid’s iconic Puerta del Sol plaza have sparked a movement in response to the recent eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal. The eviction has pushed not only individuals but also multigenerational families to join forces, expressing their shared frustrations over Spain’s ongoing housing crisis. The protests started last Saturday, drawing tens of thousands who walked through the city to stand against Abascal’s removal from her Retiro neighborhood apartment, a home she lived in for over seven decades.
Demonstrators are strongly advocating for enhanced legal protections for tenants, actions to address fraudulent activities, and halting evictions unless alternative housing is secured. Even after the Saturday march concluded, many participants chose to stay on, setting up tents in the plaza for the night.
“The housing situation is unsustainable,” declared Natalia Navarro, a 27-year-old actress who joined the campers. “We are all out on the street because we are fed up.” Alicia del Río, representing the Madrid Tenants’ Union, voiced the collective sentiment by describing the pervasive indignation and anger as “unstoppable.” She emphasized the protesters’ commitment to staying until new laws are enacted to prevent evictions like that of Abascal.
Spain’s government, led by the Socialists, is expected to roll out new housing measures during its weekly cabinet meeting next Tuesday.
On September 23, Abascal’s eviction made headlines as she was moved from her apartment on a stretcher, surrounded by supporters chanting her nickname, “Maricarmen.” Abascal, displaying resilience, shared from her hospital bed a video message, stating her fight aimed to inspire others to defend their homes.
The eviction drew sharp criticism of both public authorities and investment firms accused of impoverishing local residents. Such firms are often labeled as “vulture funds.” Simón de la Riva, a teacher participating in the protest, noted that “Maricarmen has been the last straw that sparked this social unrest.”
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the issue publicly at a Socialist Party rally, directly communicating with Abascal, “I have a message for you, Maricarmen: the government is working around the clock to bring a Royal Decree on housing next Tuesday.”
Despite the assurances, Abascal openly criticized Sánchez, questioning his awareness of the daily eviction occurrences. “Does he not realize the quantity of evictions that there are daily?” she asked during an interview with Spain’s state broadcaster RTVE.
Spanish media documented Abascal’s long tenancy at the apartment, initially rented by her father in 1956. Abascal maintained residency under controlled rent after her parents’ passing. The building’s ownership changed hands in 2018, allowing Abascal a chance to purchase the property, which financial constraints prevented her from accepting, reports the Madrid Tenants’ Union.
Urbagestión, an investment property fund, raised her rent from 500 euros ($570) to 2,650 euros, eventually reducing the amount to 1,650 euros—still beyond Abascal’s pension capabilities, as indicated by the union.
Housing costs surge while economic growth progresses—an unfortunate paradox facing many Spaniards as housing availability dwindles. The Bank of Spain has revealed an estimated shortfall of around 550,000 homes last year, with Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia particularly affected.
The weekend demonstrations in Madrid echo the influential “indignados movement” of May 15, 2011, when protests lasting 28 days energized nationwide actions addressing eviction concerns, unemployment, austerity policies, and corruption born out of a global financial crisis.
Estefania Molina, a political scientist, remarked on the heightened stakes of current frustrations. Unlike 2011’s focus on unattainable ownership, today’s issue centers around the inability to rent even a room.
Spain ranks among the lowest in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in public rental housing support, which comprises less than 2% of the national housing stock. By contrast, the European Union boasts an average of 8%.