Thousands marched through central Madrid on Saturday after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from her home earlier this week, demanding stronger tenant protections and action on rising housing costs. Authorities estimated 25,000 participants; organisers said 300,000.
On Wednesday, police broke down the door of Abascal's flat and she was carried out on a stretcher. She has been treated in hospital for exhaustion. The tenants' union said a real estate firm bought the property and raised the rent by 275% to €2,650, forcing her to leave after 70 years there.
The government is expected to approve the “Maricarmen decree” at its next cabinet meeting. It would automatically renew rental contracts and further restrict evictions, but parliamentary approval is uncertain because Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government lacks a majority. A similar bill failed earlier this year. The Bank of Spain estimates the country has a housing shortfall of 700,000 homes, based on the gap between demand and new construction.
