Police in Madrid evicted 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from her apartment of more than seven decades, drawing hundreds of protesters to the Retiro district and intensifying a national debate over Spain’s housing crisis. According to reporting by Reuters and the BBC, court officials and representatives of the investment fund Urbagestión removed Abascal on a stretcher after she was given 30 minutes to leave with essential belongings. She was taken away in an ambulance accompanied by social services.
Tenants Face Steep Rent Hikes as Investment Funds Acquire Central Apartments
Abascal’s eviction highlights the mounting pressures faced by long-term tenants in major Spanish cities amid gentrification and rising housing costs. According to BBC coverage, Abascal’s father first rented the property in 1956, and she continued the tenancy after her parents died under a long-standing rent cap. In 2018, investment firm Urbagestión acquired the building and utilized a legal framework to raise her rent from €500 to €2,650, a figure later lowered to €1,650. Abascal was unable to cover the new rate on her monthly pension of €1,350.
According to Reuters, Abascal’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, stated that court officials and Urbagestion representatives refused to suspend the eviction despite a pending court filing, humanitarian appeals, and evidence that public authorities were working to secure alternative accommodation. Duro added that an anonymous individual offered to cover the rent payments, but the landlord declined to sign a new lease. Urbagestion did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
Protests Erupt Outside Building as Political Divisions Deepen Over Housing Policy
The eviction sparked tense scenes outside the property on Wednesday morning. According to Reuters witnesses, police forcibly removed protesters blocking the entrance, dragging and pushing demonstrators and lifting individuals by their arms and legs. Supporters, including celebrities such as singer Ana Belén and Carlos Bardem, had gathered outside the building overnight, while activists blocked interior stairwells chanting slogans such as “Maricarmen stays” and “Murderers.”
The case underscores a broader political split in Spain regarding housing affordability. According to Reuters, the left-wing coalition government advocates for stronger tenant protections and rent controls but faces resistance in a divided parliament. Meanwhile, the conservative-led Madrid regional government favors a market-oriented approach.
Contrasting Pressures and Political Scandals Surrounding Madrid Housing
Public anger at the eviction intersected with local political controversies in Madrid. Activists at the scene referenced a scandal involving Madrid regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso, whose government purchased a €6.3 million luxury penthouse via a public real estate agency. While the opposition accuses Ayuso of attempting to use the property as a personal residence while bypassing transparency rules—an allegation she denies—protesters at Abascal’s eviction shouted, “Ayuso’s penthouse for Maricarmen!”
Previous court interventions had blocked three prior attempts to evict Abascal, drawing intense media scrutiny to the case.