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Evicted Spanish pensioner to return home, lawyer says
DW.com • • world
Key Points:
- An 87-year-old wheelchair user, Maria del Carmen Abascal, known as Maricarmen, who was evicted from her longtime Madrid apartment, will be able to return home following widespread protests across Spain.
- Maricarmen's eviction, captured on video showing her being taken away on a stretcher, sparked tens of thousands of people to march and camp in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, highlighting Spain's housing crisis.
- Her lawyer credited the agreement allowing her return to the "social mobilization" triggered by public outcry and hopes it will help change how housing issues are addressed in Spain.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who called the eviction a "social tragedy," is seeking support for a new housing bill, but the proposed legislation reportedly falls short of protesters' demands for stronger tenant protections and rent freezes.
- The case has intensified pressure on Spain’s left-wing government to take more decisive action on the country’s ongoing housing affordability and availability problems.
