Thousands march in Madrid to protest Spain's housing crisis after eviction of 87-year-old woman

Thousands of people marched through Madrid on Saturday to protest the eviction earlier this week of an 87-year-old woman from her lifelong home, calling for greater protection for tenants. Images of Maricarmen Abascal being carried from her Madrid flat on a stretcher on Wednesday after police broke down her door have thrust Spain’s housing crisis back into the spotlight ahead of a general election due in 2027. Protesters rattled keys, blew whistles, chanted slogans and held banners calling for...

Maricarmen Abascal's eviction after a 275% rent hike fuels fresh pressure on Pedro Sanchez's government to curb evictions and rising housing costs. MADRID (AP) — Thousands of people took to the streets in Madrid on Saturday to protest against Spain's housing crisis and ask for protective measures for tenants, anti-fraud rules, and a ban on evictions without alternative housing. The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal on Wednesday sparked a thousands-strong protest in the streets of Madrid Saturday, with demonstrators calling for greater protection for tenants.

Widespread anger at rising housing costs have put pressure on centre-left Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose government is expected to approve a package of pro-tenant measures in its next cabinet meeting.