Madrid protests erupt after 87-year-old woman evicted from home

September 27, 2026 at 03:59 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Tens of thousands protested in Madrid on Saturday over Spain's housing crisis after the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her long-time apartment. The eviction of María del Carmen Abascal on Wednesday sparked the demonstration demanding tenant protections and a ban on evictions without alternative housing. The protest ended with demonstrators occupying Puerta del Sol plaza.

Key Facts

Tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid on Saturday against Spain's housing crisis.
María del Carmen Abascal, 87, was evicted from her Madrid apartment on Wednesday after living there for decades.
The Madrid Tenants' Union organized the protest and reported that Abascal's monthly rent was raised from 500 euros to 2,650 euros by investment fund Urbagestión.
The Bank of Spain estimated a shortage of about 550,000 homes last year.
Public rental housing in Spain represents less than 2% of available supply, compared to the EU average of 8%.

The Eviction

María del Carmen Abascal, 87, was removed from her apartment in Madrid's upscale Retiro neighborhood on a stretcher on Wednesday. Her father first rented the property in 1956, and she continued as the tenant after her parents died under a rent cap. The building changed ownership in 2018, and Abascal was offered the opportunity to buy the apartment but could not afford it, according to the Madrid Tenants' Union. Investment fund Urbagestión later bought the unit and raised her monthly rent from 500 euros to 2,650 euros, then lowered it to 1,650 euros, which she still could not afford on her pension. Courts blocked three previous eviction attempts, and extensive media coverage turned Abascal into a symbol of Spain's housing crisis.

The Protest

Tens of thousands of people marched in Madrid on Saturday demanding protective measures for tenants, anti-fraud rules, and a ban on evictions without alternative housing. Protesters included Dora Garcia, a 55-year-old nurse, who said housing is a problem affecting all of society and that it is a right. Simón de la Riva, a 43-year-old teacher, called the eviction of Abascal the last straw that sparked social unrest and criticized vulture funds buying up homes. At the end of the march, protesters sat down in Puerta del Sol plaza, with some pitching tents to stay at least the night.

Housing Crisis Context

Rising costs and a housing shortage are pricing many Spaniards out of the market despite strong economic growth in Europe's fourth-largest economy. The Bank of Spain estimated the country had a shortage of about 550,000 homes last year, with Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia accounting for a substantial share. Spain ranks near the bottom of OECD countries for public rental housing, which represents less than 2% of available supply compared to the EU average of 8%. Spain previously built homes with public funds that were later sold into private ownership, removing them from the public housing stock.