Eviction of 87-year-old puts Spain’s deepening housing crisis in the spotlight

The eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid has sparked widespread protests across Spain regarding the country's housing crisis. Citizens are demanding government intervention as housing costs continue to outpace average income growth.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the growing social tension and economic disparity in European housing markets, serving as a flashpoint for broader political reform.
The eviction of Maricarmen Abascal from the Madrid home where she had lived for more than seven decades led to protests. The eviction of Maricarmen Abascal from the Madrid home where she had lived for more than seven decades led to protests. Spain Eviction of 87-year-old puts Spain’s deepening housing crisis in the spotlight Images of Maricarmen Abascal being forcibly removed from her home sparked protests and a reckoning over the country’s soaring real estate market
Ashifa Kassam in Madrid Sun 27 Sep 2026 00.00 EDT Last modified on Sun 27 Sep 2026 11.20 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google Images of an octogenarian being evicted from the home she had lived in for seven decades on a stretcher, flanked by protesters and police officers, have sparked indignation across Spain .
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