Tens of thousands protested in Madrid against Spain's housing crisis, demanding protective tenant measures and eviction bans following the eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal.
Key points
- María del Carmen Abascal was removed on a stretcher from her Retiro neighborhood apartment after her rent was heavily raised following a change in building ownership.
- Protesters gathered at the Puerta del Sol plaza and pitched tents following the march.
- The Bank of Spain estimated a shortage of about 550,000 homes in the country last year.
- Spain's public rental housing accounts for less than 2% of its available supply, ranking near the bottom of OECD countries.
Why it matters
The high-profile eviction of an elderly resident has galvanized public anger over housing affordability, soaring rents, and tenant protections amid a severe nationwide housing shortage.
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