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An 87-year-old woman named Maricarmen Abascal was forcibly evicted from her Madrid home after over seven decades of residency when an investment fund sought a rent increase she could not afford. Despite protests and government criticism, police removed her in a stretcher as supporters clashed with authorities outside her apartment. The eviction highlights Spain's housing crisis, exacerbated by high rents and a lack of affordable housing, while also touching on broader political debates about tenant protections and real estate speculation.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Madrid, Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman who had lived in her apartment for over seven decades, was forcibly evicted on Wednesday by riot police. The eviction followed a sharp rent increase of 275% by the investment firm Urbagestión after the building changed ownership in 2018. Despite protesters barricading the door with furniture to delay the eviction and hundreds gathering outside to protest, police used force to enter her home and removed Maricarmen on a stretcher to an ambulance.
Maricarmen’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, criticized the authorities for not providing alternative housing or protective measures for tenants. The case highlights Spain's growing housing crisis, with soaring rents, gentrification, and a shortage of affordable homes leading to public outrage. Following the eviction, thousands marched in Madrid on Saturday demanding anti-fraud rules, tenant protections, and bans on evictions without guaranteed alternatives. Protests also occurred in 16 other cities, underscoring widespread concern over housing conditions across Spain.
Written for “Spain Housing Crisis Evictions Protests” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 24 other(s) covering the same event.
Police evicted an 87-year-old woman on Wednesday from her Madrid home of more than seven decades despite hundreds of people protesting outside and the government criticising the eviction order, in a dramatic new flashpoint of Spain's housing crisis.
asserted
government → evict → crisis
After being given just 30 minutes to leave with only essential belongings, Maricarmen Abascal was eventually removed from the building on a stretcher accompanied by social services officials and driven away in an ambulance as supporters chanted "Maricarmen, you're not alone!" and "Murderers!"
asserted
you → give → ambulance
The case highlights mounting pressure on long-term tenants in major Spanish cities, where soaring rents, gentrification and a shortage of affordable housing have fuelled social and political tensions.
asserted
rents → highlight → tensions
The apartment in the capital's affluent Retiro neighbourhood had been acquired by an investment fund that sought a steep increase in her rent.
asserted
that → acquire → rent
Maricarmen's lawyer, Beatriz Duro, said court officials and representatives of the investment fund, Urbagestion, had refused to suspend the eviction despite a pending court filing, humanitarian appeals and evidence that public authorities were working to secure alternative accommodation.
asserted
authorities → say → accommodation
Urbagestion did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
asserted
Urbagestion → respond → comment
Duro said an anonymous individual had offered to cover the rent payments, but the landlord declined to sign a new lease.
asserted
landlord → say → lease
"I've lived here for 71 years and I don't want to leave," Maricarmen told reporters on the eve of the eviction.
asserted
Maricarmen → live → eviction
The eviction sparked tense scenes outside the building, where police forcibly removed protesters blocking the entrance.
asserted
police → spark → entrance
Reuters witnesses saw officers dragging and pushing demonstrators, lifting some by their arms and legs as they cleared the doorway.
asserted
they → see → doorway
Spain remains divided over how to tackle a worsening housing affordability crisis.
asserted
Spain → remain → crisis
The left-wing coalition government has pushed for stronger tenant protections and wider rent controls, but has struggled to secure backing in a divided parliament, while the conservative-led Madrid regional government has favoured a more market-oriented approach.
asserted
government → push → approach
Madrid's regional leader, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, is embroiled in a scandal regarding her government's purchase, via a public real estate agency, of a €6.3 million ($7.2 million) luxury penthouse.
asserted
leader → embroil → penthouse
The opposition accuses Ayuso of seeking to use the property as her personal residence while bypassing public spending and transparency rules, which she denies.
asserted
she → accuse → which
Referring to that scandal, activists at Wednesday's eviction shouted: "Ayuso's penthouse for Maricarmen!"
asserted
activists → refer → Maricarmen
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