Protests erupted in Madrid on Wednesday after police forcibly evicted 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from the apartment she had occupied for more than seven decades. The incident has intensified the national debate regarding Spain’s escalating housing crisis, skyrocketing rental costs, and the legal safeguards available to long-term tenants.
Abascal was removed from her residence on Alcalde Sainz de Baranda Street by riot police officers. Due to her age and condition, she was transported on a stretcher to an ambulance. Alicia del Rio, a spokesperson for the tenants’ rights group Inquilinas de Madrid, confirmed that Abascal was taken to a local hospital following the eviction.
As the operation proceeded, dozens of demonstrators gathered behind police cordons, chanting slogans such as “Maricarmen, you are not alone” and “Murderers!” Activists expressed distress at being blocked from preventing the removal.
The dispute between Abascal and the managing real estate company has persisted for eight years. According to reports from El Pais, the elderly woman rented the unit from a private landlord until 2018, when a real estate firm acquired the property. This marked the fourth attempt by the company to evict her.
Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, stated that the company rejected multiple proposals from her legal team, including requests to delay the eviction. Furthermore, Del Rio revealed that an anonymous writer had offered to cover Abascal’s rent, but the real estate company declined the offer. The company has not issued any public comment regarding the case.
During the short 30-minute window allowed to collect her possessions, Abascal told reporters, “I have lived here for 71 years and I don’t want to leave.”
The case underscores the pressure on renters in major Spanish cities, where gentrification and a shortage of affordable housing have fueled widespread discontent. While the left-wing coalition government at the national level advocates for stronger tenant protections and rent controls, legislative progress is hindered by political divisions in Parliament. Conversely, the conservative regional government of Madrid, led by the People’s Party, supports a market-oriented approach.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of broader controversy surrounding Madrid’s leadership. Regional President Isabel Diaz Ayuso is currently facing scrutiny over allegations involving the purchase of luxury properties valued at approximately €6.3 million ($7.2 million).
The fact that this took four attempts shows how long tenants fight these corporate landlords. Justice is too slow.
Is the government doing anything meaningful, or is this just political theater while housing costs skyrocket for everyone?
How does this still happen in 2024? Seven decades of tenancy deserves respect, not police brutality.
Wait, they turned down an anonymous rent offer? That’s not just negligence, it feels malicious and cruel.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. Evicting a 71-year resident on a stretcher? The system is broken.