Spain housing crisis: 87-year-old's eviction sparks Madrid protests for tenant rights
Tens of thousands protested in Madrid on Saturday demanding stronger tenant protections after the eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal, highlighting Spain's housing crisis. Protesters called for measures against fraud and a ban on evictions without alternative housing. Abascal was forced from her Madrid apartment Wednesday after her rent was raised from 500 euros to 1,650 euros monthly by an investment fund, which she could not afford on her pension. Three earlier eviction attempts were blocked by courts, and her case has become a symbol of broader housing struggles. Spain faces a shortage of about 550,000 homes, with public rental housing under 2% of supply versus the EU average of 8%. Analysts cite tourism, immigration, and incomes failing to keep pace with rising costs as key pressures.