Eviction of 87-Year-Old Woman in Madrid Sparks Major Protests
The situation of an elderly woman evicted from the home she lived in for eight decades has brought citizens to the streets and led to the establishment of a tent camp in Puerta del Sol square.
The eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home in Spain's capital, Madrid, triggered widespread protests against the housing crisis and overnight tent demonstrations in the historic Puerta del Sol square.
Tent Protest Begins in Historic Square
Angry protesters gathered in Madrid's historic Puerta del Sol square spent the night in the square to protest the housing crisis and continued their demonstrations on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets following the eviction incident to demand stronger tenant protections and a ban on evictions.
Removed from Her Seventy-Year Home on a Stretcher
An 87-year-old woman named María del Carmen Abascal was carried out on a stretcher on September 23 from her apartment in the upscale Retiro district, where she had lived for over seventy years.
Although her supporters made efforts to stop the eviction, they were unsuccessful, and footage of these moments sparked widespread public outrage across Spain.
Pressure on Government Increases Over Housing Crisis
Anger toward public authorities and real estate investment companies led demonstrators to demand that evictions be banned until alternative housing is provided.
Following these developments, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that they are working on a new Royal Decree in the housing sector to be presented to the cabinet.