At 87 years old, Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from the apartment where she had lived for over 70 years. Her departure, on a stretcher and under police escort, sparked protests in Madrid against rising housing prices. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that a decree-law aimed at restricting evictions was to be presented on Tuesday, September 29.
An expulsion that has become symbolic
A few days before the weekend gatherings, the pensioner was taken from her apartment on a stretcher to the hospital. Reports indicate that a real estate company had bought the apartment and increased the rent by 275%.
Thousands of people then gathered in Madrid, particularly in the Puerta del Sol square, to protest her eviction and demand meas to address rising housing prices. Maricarmen’s story has become a symbol of a crisis that is sparking anger and emotion in Spain.
Calls to action
From her hospital bed, Maricarmen Abascal called on Spaniards to mobilize against evictions. « I couldn’t save my home, but I’m fighting so that others can learn how, » she declared. Her message resonated with the protesters gathered in the capital.
Director Pedro Almodóvar, who was in the crowd, also reacted to his expulsion. Speaking to Spanish television, he stated that this affair compels political leaders to find urgent solutions.
A decree still subject to Parliament
On Sunday, September 27, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed Maricarmen directly. He announced that his government was working on presenting, the following Tuesday, a royal decree-law on housing, already nicknamed « Maricarmen ».
The proposed text aims to restrict the possibilities for deportation. However, its adoption remains uncertain: the decree still needs to be submitted to the Spanish Parliament.
Source: franceinfo – Real Estate (www.franceinfo.fr)
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