Tens of thousands of people protested in central Madrid on Saturday against Spain’s worsening housing crisis. Demonstrators demanded better protection for tenants, stricter anti-fraud measures, and a ban on evictions without alternative housing options.
The protest was sparked by the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her home of 70 years, highlighting the pressures faced by long-term tenants as rental prices soar in major cities. The protest comes ahead of next year’s general election, amid rising public discontent driven by gentrification and a shortage of affordable housing.
Analysts attribute the housing crisis to a surge in tourism and immigration, which has exacerbated the already limited housing supply. The Bank of Spain estimated a shortfall of 550,000 homes last year.
Government estimates put the number of protesters at around 25,000, while the Madrid Tenants’ Union claims more than 300,000 participated. After the rally, some activists set up a protest camp in Puerta del Sol, planning to remain until forcibly removed by police.
Supporters welcomed Abascal as she was evacuated on a stretcher following her eviction. Protester Dora Garcia, a nurse, expressed her frustration: “Housing is a right, and we don’t have it.” She highlighted that the issue affects all society, regardless of age or class.
Abascal’s father rented the flat in the upscale Retiro neighbourhood in 1956. After his death, she continued living there under a rent cap. Following a change of ownership in 2018, her rent skyrocketed from €500 to €2,650. Although the rent was later reduced to €1,650, Abascal could not afford it.
Her case, blocked from eviction by the courts three times previously, has become a symbol of the wider housing crisis, with protester Simón de la Riva describing the situation as heartbreaking and unacceptable, particularly for an elderly woman facing eviction.
