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Anger grows across Spain after elderly woman evicted from her home of 70 years
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- An 87-year-old wheelchair user, Maricarmen Abascal, was forcibly evicted from her Madrid apartment after living there for over 70 years, sparking protests amid Spain's escalating housing crisis.
- The eviction, described by Abascal's lawyer as excessively forceful and inhumane, occurred despite pending legal actions and offers to cover rent, highlighting tensions between tenants and property investors.
- The case has intensified public outrage over rising rents and shrinking affordable housing in Spanish cities, with tenants unions organizing protests in multiple cities including Madrid.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the eviction as a social tragedy and criticized regional policies favoring luxury developments over social housing.
- Experts and tenants emphasize the need for regulatory reforms to treat housing as a fundamental right rather than a financial asset, amid rapidly increasing rental prices and limited availability.
