In brief
Massive protests have taken to Madrid’s streets after the eviction of 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal, highlighting Spain’s spiralling housing issues. The government responded with two decree‑laws aimed at limiting rent hikes and tightening eviction procedures, but the protests demand stronger action. Legislators voted on the measures amid growing pressure from tenant groups, sparking debates over whether the crisis will prompt an early general election before next summer. As demonstrators chant for affordable housing, the country’s political future hangs in the balance.
On Tuesday, demonstrators filled Madrid's streets as thousands rallied against a recent eviction that could trigger a nationwide order.
The protest erupted after 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from her home because she could not meet a sudden rent increase imposed by the apartment firm. Her case has become a symbol of the mounting cost‑of‑living crisis that has left many Spaniards with rents that outpace wages.
Parliament hastily voted on two decree‑laws the government drafted in response to the backlash. The laws promise caps on rent hikes, stronger tenant protection and a review of the eviction process, but critics say the proposals are insufficient and could stall only after the vote.
Will the government's failure trigger an early general election? Madrid's mayor, as well as opposition parties, urged the cabinet to “transform the debate into concrete policy”, saying a snap election is a possibility if the crisis deepens further.
The BBC's Guy Hedgecoe, on the scene, reported that protestors chant slogans demanding “affordable housing for all”, and that they are demanding urgent legal redress.
For the next 48 hours, live feeds from the square will let viewers see the evolving situation. Citizens outside Madrid can also share on social media using #HousingSpain or #SnapElection.
