Protesters in Madrid are expressing their outrage over the eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal, sparking a demonstration against Spain’s housing crisis. Protesters, including families, continued their protest in Puerta del Sol plaza for a second day on Sunday.
On Saturday, tens of thousands marched through Madrid, protesting Abascal’s eviction from her home in the upscale Retiro neighborhood. Her eviction followed more than seventy years of residency.
Demonstrators are demanding stronger protections for tenants and measures to address rent fraud. They’re calling for a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable.
Natalia Navarro, a 27-year-old actress, explained her frustration, stating, “We are all out on the street because we are fed up.” Alicia del Río, representing the Madrid Tenants’ Union, emphasized the unwavering determination of the protesters: “We will remain here until the government passes new laws.” The union seeks measures like indefinite rental contracts to prevent evictions similar to Abascal’s.
Spain’s government plans to announce new housing measures next Tuesday, hoping to address the problems fueling social unrest. Abascal’s eviction took place on September 23. Her removal, despite supporters’ attempts to prevent it, led to her being carried away on a stretcher. Images of the eviction have sparked widespread condemnation against real estate firms known for driving residents out of their homes. These firms are often called “vulture funds” by critics.
Simón de la Riva, a 43-year-old teacher, voiced his belief that Abascal’s situation is a catalyst for the current wave of protests. Speaking at a Socialist Party event, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed Abascal, urging parliamentary groups to support the new housing decree.
Abascal openly criticized Sánchez, questioning his awareness of the frequent evictions happening across Spain. “Does he not realize the quantity of evictions that there are daily?” she asked.
Abascal’s connection to her apartment spans decades. Her father rented the apartment in 1956, and she continued living there under rent controls after her parents passed away. The property changed hands in 2018, and the new owner offered her the apartment, though she couldn’t afford it.
Urbagestión later acquired the unit and increased her monthly rent significantly, making it unaffordable for Abascal’s pension.
Spain faces rising housing costs and a shortage, pushing many Spaniards out of the market despite economic growth. Income levels have not matched these rising costs, exacerbated by population growth via tourism and immigration. The Bank of Spain reported a shortage of about 550,000 homes last year, with the highest deficits in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.
Recent demonstrations in Madrid’s historic plaza remind many of the “indignados movement” of 2011, marked by a massive sit-in reacting to housing issues, unemployment, and corruption. Political scientist Estefania Molina noted the growing stakes of popular frustration: “In 2011, people protested because they couldn’t buy an apartment. Today, the protest is about not being able to rent a room in someone else’s home.”
Spain’s public rental housing ranks low in the OECD, representing less than 2% of its housing stock, compared to the 8% average across the EU.