What happened
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Madrid, Spain, to demonstrate against the country's housing crisis after an 87-year-old woman, María del Carmen Abascal, was evicted from her apartment of over 70 years. The eviction sparked widespread outrage and criticism of real estate investment companies and public authorities.
Abascal had lived in the apartment since 1956, and after her parents died, she remained as a tenant under rent controls. However, the building changed ownership in 2018, and the new owner, an investment fund, raised her monthly rent from 500 euros to 2,650 euros, which she could not afford on her pension.
The protesters, including multigenerational families, are demanding stronger tenant protections, measures to combat fraud, and a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable. Many protesters camped overnight in Madrid's historic Puerta del Sol plaza, refusing to leave until the government passes new laws to address the housing crisis.
Spain's Socialist-led government is expected to announce new measures to address the housing crisis in its weekly cabinet meeting next Tuesday. The government has faced criticism for its handling of the crisis, with many Spaniards struggling to afford housing due to rising costs and a shortage of available homes.
The demonstrations in Madrid have drawn comparisons to the historic protests of the
