Thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on Wednesday following the forced eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from the apartment in the city’s Retiro district where she had lived for more than 70 years.
Abascal, who has a recognised disability and uses a wheelchair, was removed from her home at 46 Calle Alcalde Sainz de Baranda on a stretcher and taken away by ambulance after police cleared protesters who had gathered overnight in an attempt to block the eviction. Supporters chanted “Maricarmen, you’re not alone!” and “Murderers!” as she left the building. She was given only about 30 minutes to collect essential belongings.
The property was acquired in 2018 by the investment firm Urbagestión, which raised the long-controlled rent from €500 to as high as €2,650 per month before later reducing it to €1,650. Abascal’s monthly pension of approximately €1,350 made the increase unaffordable. This was the fourth attempt to carry out the eviction after previous efforts were delayed by court rulings and public pressure.
Hundreds of neighbours, housing activists from the Madrid Tenants’ Union, and cultural figures including actor Carlos Bardem and singer Ana Belén had camped outside the building the previous night. Some protesters blocked stairways inside the building. Police used tear gas and baton charges to clear the area, leading to tense confrontations.
Later in the day, a larger spontaneous demonstration drew around 10,000 people, according to the Spanish government’s delegation in Madrid. Protesters marched to a controversial luxury penthouse recently purchased by the Madrid regional government and chanted slogans such as “Ayuso’s penthouse for Maricarmen!”, “Shame!”, and “We are all Maricarmen.” Similar rallies took place in other Spanish cities.
The case has become a powerful symbol of Spain’s deepening housing crisis, with an average of three evictions occurring daily in the Madrid region alone. Critics, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, described the eviction as a “social tragedy,” while Amnesty International Spain called it a violation of human rights that prioritises speculative interests over the right to housing for vulnerable people.