Tents Set Up in Madrid Square Protest Spain's Housing Crisis

The eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal in Spain has reignited the nationwide housing crisis, as angry citizens pitched tents and spent the night in Madrid's historic Puerta del Sol square.

Overnight Protest in Historic Square

Reacting to the eviction of the 87-year-old woman, protesters camped out in Madrid's historic Puerta del Sol square and spent the night there.

Demonstrations drawing larger crowds on Sunday continued unabated on the second day of protests against Spain's deep housing crisis.

Tens of Thousands March

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid on Saturday to hold a massive march protesting the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal from her apartment in the Retiro neighborhood.

Protesters are demanding that the government implement protective measures for tenants, introduce rules against fraud, and ban evictions carried out without offering alternative housing.

Tenants' Rights Campaign

Alicia del Río, a spokesperson for the Tenants' Union, clearly stated that they will continue their actions and will not leave the square until the government passes new laws.

According to Bank of Spain data, it is estimated that there was a shortage of approximately 550,000 housing units nationwide last year.

Background Leading Up to the Eviction

Abascal had continued to live under rent controls in the apartment rented by her father in 1956, after her family members passed away.

A change in building ownership in 2018 and the subsequent decision by the investment fund Urbagestión, which bought the apartment, to raise the monthly rent beyond what she could afford with her pension led to the eviction.