Can Maricarmen's Case Reshape Spain's Housing Policy?
The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal has become a symbol of Spain's housing crisis, prompting mass protests and a parliamentary vote this week on the "Maricarmen decree" named after her. The decree aims to reform housing policy following her widely publicized removal from her home of 70 years. Maricarmen was carried out on a stretcher after police broke down her door, with her rent reportedly raised by 275 percent to 2,650 euros following a property purchase by an investment fund. Tens of thousands protested in Madrid, with organizers claiming over 300,000 attendees, demanding affordable prices and tenant protections. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government is expected to approve measures including automatic lease renewals and stricter eviction rules, but lacks a parliamentary majority. Spain's central bank estimates 700,000 people lack housing, with rents rising 80 percent in a decade amid tourism and immigration pressures.