In Madrid’s historic Puerta del Sol plaza, protesters gathered to voice their discontent after the eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal. They camped overnight, with even more joining them on Sunday to protest Spain’s ongoing housing crisis.
The protest had already seen tens of thousands taking to the streets on Saturday. They demanded stronger tenant protections, a crackdown on fraud, and a halt to evictions when no alternative housing is available. The eviction took place in Madrid’s Retiro neighborhood, where Abascal had lived for over seventy years.
After the march on Saturday, many demonstrators chose to stay, pitching tents in the plaza. Natalia Navarro, a 27-year-old actress, expressed the frustration shared by many, saying, “The housing situation is unsustainable. We are all out on the street because we are fed up.”
Alicia del Río, a spokesperson for the Madrid Tenants’ Union, emphasized the protesters’ determination. “The wave of indignation and anger that has been unleashed is now unstoppable,” she said, stressing that the movement would persist until laws change to prevent evictions like Abascal’s.
The government needs to take immediate action to address these housing issues,said del Río.
Abascal’s eviction, on September 23, captured national attention. As she was removed from her Retiro apartment on a stretcher, a crowd cheered her on, chanting “Maricarmen.” She later addressed the public from her hospital bed, encouraging others to fight for their homes. The incident fueled criticism of public authorities and real estate firms, which many accused of forcing residents out.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded to the uproar, stating that new housing measures would be introduced by the government. Speaking at a Socialist Party rally, he directly addressed Abascal, promising a forthcoming Royal Decree on housing.
The rising costs of living have severely impacted many Spaniards, including Abascal. After losing rent control, her apartment, initially rented by her father in 1956, became unaffordable following changes in building ownership. Offers to buy the unit were beyond her financial reach. Rent increases—from 500 euros to 2,650 euros, lowered later to 1,650 euros—were still untenable on her pension, leading to her eviction.
Broader economic pressures add to the crisis. Housing costs have outpaced incomes, driven by population growth, tourism, and inadequate housing supply. The Bank of Spain estimated last year that there is a deficit of approximately 550,000 homes, with cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia especially affected.
These protests echo those of the “indignados movement” in 2011, which saw similar civil disobedience actions. Then, as now, housing affordability was a central issue. Political scientist Estefania Molina highlighted the growing frustration; back then, the issue was buying homes, and now it’s about even renting a room.
Spain falls behind other European countries in providing public rental housing. It ranks near the bottom among other members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, with less than 2% of housing stock covered by public rental subsidies. This is starkly below the European Union average of 8%.
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