Forcible Eviction of 87-Year-Old Madrid Woman Sparks Protest Encampment over Spain's Housing Crisis

Protest Encampment in Madrid (Day 3)

A protest encampment has entered its third day in Madrid, with more than 600 residents camping outside the regional government headquarters in Puerto del Sol.

The action is driven by Spain’s housing crisis and heightened anger following the forcible eviction of 87-year-old tenant Mari Carmen Abascal Martín (“Mari Carman”). After an investment fund bought her building, she was reportedly subjected to a rent increase of more than three times. Police reportedly broke into her home, carried her out on a stretcher, and she later sent a message from her hospital bed.

Protesters’ Demands

Now camping with sleeping bags and tents, protesters say they will not leave until the government takes “meaningful action.” Their demands center on:

• Regulating the rental market
• Preventing vulnerable tenants from being left without housing

They point to Mari Carmen as a symbol of a broader pattern of evictions linked to speculative investment and unaffordable rents.

Protesters also cite a forthcoming “Marikarman decree” to be discussed by Spain’s Council of Ministers, saying they will continue their campaign until they believe adequate measures are adopted.

Context Behind the Eviction

Two guests explain that although Mari Carmen’s eviction occurred this week, the process began years earlier, involving formal eviction/renovation proceedings and rent-pressure notices.

The tenants’ union spokesperson compares the encampment to earlier waves of mass protest in Spain—particularly a prior “tents in Puerta del Sol” episode—while arguing this movement has a specific goal: transforming Spain’s housing model, not just addressing one family.

Political Analysis: Systemic Failures

Tesh Cidi, a member of Spain’s parliament (Sumar), vice chair of the economy and digital transformation committee, argues the crisis reflects systemic failures in Spain’s housing system:

• Displacement affects normal working people
• Wealthy investors treat housing as an investment asset
• These dynamics connect to tourism and broader property speculation

She says the progressive coalition lacks enough political power to fully overturn the model and must push further, but faces resistance in parliament—including from far-right and right-wing parties she says do not oppose large housing investors.

COVID-Era Eviction Protections and the Regional Challenge

When asked about pandemic-era eviction moratoriums and protections for older people, Cidi emphasizes that:

• Spain’s constitutional right to housing and earlier housing legislation have been insufficient
• Spain’s semi-federal structure means regions must implement protections effectively
• Parties—including extreme right forces—voted against protections during and after COVID-era restrictions

Broader Justice: Western Sahara and Spain’s Responsibility

The discussion expands beyond housing when a Sahrawi parliament member addresses what she calls Spain’s hypocrisy on Palestine compared to Spain’s position regarding Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara—where she and her family are from.

She condemns Pedro Sánchez’s alignment with Morocco’s “autonomy” plan and argues Spain has colonial responsibility in Western Sahara. She adds that recent legal changes recognize Spain’s colonial history and return elements of identity and memory justice, framing Sahrawi self-determination as part of a wider justice agenda that parallels the housing struggle.

Presenters / Contributors

• Sabina Caro (spokesperson, Madrid Tenants Union / Sindicato de …)
• Tesh Cidi (member of the Spanish parliament, Sumar)
• Democracy Now! (interviewer/host)