Stories
Spain housing crisis sparks massive protests after tragic death of 87-year-old grandmother
- •An 87-year-old woman named María del Carmen Abascal was forcibly evicted from her Madrid home of 70 years, sparking nationwide outrage in Spain.
- •Police removed her on a stretcher despite her age and health issues, and she tragically passed away in the hospital a few weeks later.
- •Over 25,000 protesters flooded the streets of Madrid and camped at Puerta del Sol Square, condemning the system and skyrocketing rental prices.
- •The humanitarian tragedy created a political earthquake, forcing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to face intense pressure and propose emergency housing reforms.
Key Questions Answered
The protests were sparked by the forced eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal from her Madrid apartment of over seven decades after her rent skyrocketed. Her subsequent death in the hospital intensified widespread public outrage over soaring rental prices and housing shortages.
In response to the crisis and public demonstrations, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government proposed emergency regulations including extending eviction protections for vulnerable citizens until 2030, regulating room rentals, imposing taxes on seasonal rentals, and banning speculative real estate purchases by vulture funds until 2028.
Following a parliamentary defeat over emergency housing measures and mounting nationwide anger over high rents, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap general election for November 29. He sought to mobilize left-wing voters and secure a broader progressive majority to tackle the housing crisis.
