Eviction of 87-year-old puts Spain’s deepening housing crisis in the spotlight
Images of Maricarmen Abascal being forcibly removed from her home sparked protests and a reckoning over the country’s soaring real estate market
TL;DR
- An 87-year-old woman, Maricarmen Abascal, was evicted from her home of 70 years after facing a 230% rent hike.
- The eviction sparked large-scale protests across Spain, with thousands demanding action on housing affordability.
- Rents in Spain have risen 80% in a decade, while home prices have increased by 63%, creating a market detached from average incomes.
- Protesters and activists are calling for measures to curb rising housing costs, increase social housing stock, and curb the influence of investment funds in the housing market.
- The incident has exposed political divisions, with different parties offering varied solutions and some regions resisting national housing legislation.
- Politicians, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, have acknowledged the severity of the issue and promised swift measures.