Madrid eviction sparks housing crisis fury

An 87-year-old disabled woman, Maricarmen Abascal, was forcibly evicted from her Madrid home of over seven decades. Riot police confronted hundreds of protesters in Madrid's Retiro district who tried to prevent the eviction. Police used teargas and baton charges, removing Maricarmen on a stretcher and hospitalizing her. Her eviction ignited widespread outrage, highlighting Spain's deepening housing crisis. Her apartment, under an "old-rent" contract, was acquired by Urbagestión SL. She was offered to buy her home for 247,000 euros, unaffordable on her 1,350 euro pension. The firm then increased her rent from 500 to 1,650 euros, beyond her means. Campaigners condemned the actions, citing pressure on tenants in Spanish cities facing soaring rental prices and housing shortages, fueling social tensions. Her eight-year legal battle marked the fourth eviction attempt. Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, said the fund refused to suspend the eviction. An anonymous writer offered to cover the increased rent, but the landlord declined. Protesters chanted "Maricarmen, you're not alone!" and "Ayuso's penthouse for Maricarmen!", referencing the regional president. The UN had called for the eviction to be suspended. This incident reignited the national debate on housing policy, with the left-wing government advocating stronger tenant protections and rent controls, while the conservative regional government favors a market-oriented approach. Maricarmen's plight exemplifies the human cost of Spain's housing affordability crisis.