Madrid protest demands renter protections after 70-year tenant evicted

A large protest organized by the Sindicato de Inquilinas is marching through central Madrid this afternoon to denounce the eviction of Maricarmen, an elderly woman forced to leave her rental home after 70 years, blaming the national, regional, and city governments. The demonstration, under the slogan "Not one more Maricarmen," began at 18:30 in Puerta del Sol, where the regional government is based, and will proceed to Cibeles, the city hall, and then to the Congress of Deputies. Organizers are demanding the government include in a housing decree, possibly approved Tuesday, a requirement for landlords to justify non-renewal of contracts or pay compensation. The march highlights broader housing concerns in Spain, with activists using Maricarmen's case as a symbol of tenant vulnerability. The protest targets multiple levels of government, reflecting a coordinated push for stronger renter protections in upcoming legislation.