Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid against Spain's housing crisis following the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her apartment. Demonstrators called for tenant protections, anti-fraud measures, and a ban on evictions without offering alternative housing. The protests were sparked by the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal, who had lived in the property since it was rented to her father in 1956. Her eviction became a symbol of Spain's broader housing issues, with protesters camping out overnight at Puerta del Sol plaza.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
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.
In short:
Tens of thousands of people have protested in Madrid against Spain's housing crisis after the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her rental apartment.
asserted
thousands → protest → apartment
The protesters asked for protective measures for tenants, anti-fraud rules and a ban on evictions without alternative housing.
asserted
protesters → ask → housing
Some protesters have pitched tents to stay the night in the Puerta del Sol plaza in the Spanish capital.
asserted
protesters → pitch → capital
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Madrid to protest against Spain's housing crisis and ask for protective measures for tenants, anti-fraud rules and a ban on evictions without alternative housing.
asserted
thousands → take → housing
The protest on Saturday came in reaction to the dramatic eviction on Wednesday of an 87-year-old woman from the Madrid apartment she had lived in for decades.
"We're here because housing is a problem that already affects all of society, all ages and classes," said protester Dora Garcia, a 55-year-old nurse.
asserted
Garcia → come → society
"And we can't keep maintaining this.
asserted
we → keep → this
"Housing is a right and we don't have it.
asserted
we → have → it
"
Taken out of her home on a stretcher in the upscale Retiro neighborhood, María del Carmen Abascal was greeted by protesters and supporters as she was loaded into an ambulance.
asserted
she → take → ambulance
Spanish media reported that Ms Abascal's father first rented the property in 1956 and she continued as the tenant after her parents died, during which time there was a rent cap.
asserted
parents → report → tenant
The building changed ownership in 2018, and Ms Abascal was offered the opportunity to buy the apartment but could not afford it, according to the Madrid Tenants' Union, which organised Saturday's protest.
uncertain
which → change → protest
Urbagestión, an investment fund that later bought the unit, raised her monthly rent from 500 euros ($810) to 2,650 euros ($4290).
asserted
that → buy → euros
It subsequently lowered the rent to 1,650 euros ($2670), which Abascal still could not afford on her pension, the union said.
uncertain
union → lower → pension
Courts blocked three previous attempts to evict her.
asserted
Courts → block → her
Extensive media coverage turned Ms Abascal into a symbol of Spain's housing crisis.
"
asserted
coverage → turn → crisis
Maricarmen has been, in a way, the last straw that sparked this social unrest, but we've been dealing with this whole issue for a long time now," said protester Simón de la Riva, 43, a teacher.
asserted
Riva → spark → time
"It's unacceptable that vulture funds are buying up homes, that people can't afford to live, that entire families are being evicted, and that an elderly woman has been evicted."
At the end of the march, protesters sat down in the Puerta del Sol plaza with apparent plans to stay put.
asserted
protesters → buy → plans
Some even pitched tents to stay at least the night or until police forcibly removed them.
asserted
police → pitch → them
Rising costs and a housing shortage are pricing many Spaniards out of the market, despite strong economic growth in Europe's fourth-largest economy.
asserted
costs → rise → economy
Incomes have not kept pace.
asserted
Incomes → keep → pace
Analysts say tourism and immigration-driven population growth in cities have placed further pressure on the limited housing supply.
asserted
tourism → say → supply
The Bank of Spain estimated that the country had a shortage of about 550,000 homes last year, with Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia accounting for a substantial share.
asserted
Madrid → estimate → share
Spain ranks near the bottom of countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development for public rental housing, which represents less than 2 per cent of its available supply.
asserted
which → rank → supply
Spain previously built homes with public funds that were later sold into private ownership, removing them from the public housing stock.
"I haven't managed to defend my home, but I have fought so that others can learn to fight for what's theirs," Ms Abascal said on Friday.
asserted
Abascal → build → Friday
She spoke from her hospital bed after the eviction in a video shared by the tenants' union.
asserted
She → speak → union
The Aporia
