Thousands protest in Madrid over eviction of elderly tenant
Thousands marched in Madrid on Saturday after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from her home earlier in the week. Demonstrators called for more tenant protections and action on rising housing costs. The protest adds pressure on Spain's government ahead of a 2027 general election.
Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was removed from her Madrid home on Wednesday after police forced entry; she was later treated in hospital for exhaustion. According to a tenants' union, she had lived there 70 years before a real estate company bought the property and increased her rent by 275%, to €2,650 monthly.
Saturday's march drew an estimated 25,000 people according to authorities, while organizers claimed 300,000. The government is expected to consider a "Maricarmen decree" with automatic rental-contract renewals and tighter eviction rules, though its parliamentary passage is uncertain and a similar bill failed earlier this year.
The case may intensify public pressure on Spain's government and political parties before the 2027 election. Renters, older tenants, and lower-income households could feel more exposed to housing insecurity, while landlords and investors may face tighter rules if proposals advance. The protest could also widen debate over tourist rentals and housing supply. Yet parliamentary divisions may limit concrete change, so the impact could remain more political and symbolic than immediate.