Spanish Senior’s Eviction Sparks Nationwide Protest Over Housing Crisis

Protesters gathered in Madrid, holding signs that read “Maricarmen vs the Vultures,” “Maricarmen, you are not alone,” and “Ni una Maricarmen más.” The demonstrations, initially aimed at stopping 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal’s eviction from her long‑time apartment in the upscale Retiro district, have broadened into a movement demanding stronger tenant protections amid the city’s housing crisis.

Ms. Abascal, who has lived in the apartment since the 1950s near the Prado Museum and the Golden Triangle of Art, was evicted on Wednesday after her lease expired. The eviction, carried out by the building owners—a real‑estate organization—has sparked outrage and a series of protests that now aim to prevent similar situations for other residents.

The case has highlighted the tension between local and national authorities. While the government points to the city council, Madrid’s council counters that responsibility lies with the national government, leaving the fate of affordable housing in one of Europe’s most desirable cities uncertain.

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