The forced eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman with a disability, triggered widespread demonstrations across Spain after she was unable to afford a 230% rent increase imposed by an investment fund that acquired her apartment. Images of her being removed on a stretcher garnered national attention, prompting approximately 10,000 protesters to gather in Madrid on Wednesday and around 25,000 to assemble by Saturday, demanding action on housing access and stricter eviction protections.
The incident has exposed significant disparities in Spain’s housing market, where rents have increased 80% over the past decade while home prices have climbed 63%. Political analysts characterized the case as emblematic of broader systemic failures, noting that Spain’s housing crisis has remained a central concern despite previous grassroots movements addressing the issue. The country currently has approximately 3 million empty homes, while social housing constitutes just 2.5% of total housing stock, compared to 14% in France and 34% in the Netherlands. Spain experiences approximately 25,000 evictions annually.
Political responses have highlighted deep divisions on housing policy. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged swift introduction of remedial measures, while the left-wing coalition partner Sumar proposed rent freezes and expropriation of Abascal’s former residence. In contrast, the conservative People’s Party and allied groups had voted earlier this year to terminate a six-year moratorium on evictions protecting vulnerable tenants. The regional government of Madrid has faced scrutiny over its selective implementation of tenant protection legislation.
The eviction has also drawn international attention, with the UN’s special rapporteur on housing rights criticizing Spain’s legal framework for prioritizing corporate profits over housing access. Labour unions and human rights organizations have called for tax reforms to discourage real estate speculation and for investment funds to be restricted from the residential market. The case has become a symbol of broader housing insecurity affecting thousands of Spanish households facing displacement and unaffordable rents.
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