Protesters have set up roughly 100 tents in Madrid's Puerta del Sol after the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal sparked mass demonstrations. The move has pushed the housing crisis into the national spotlight as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez prepares a decree-law that could include automatic lease renewals and tighter eviction limits. With Sánchez's party lacking a parliamentary majority, approval is uncertain and activists warn they will escalate if the measures fall short.
Madrid Tenants Camp in Puerta del Sol After Shocking Eviction — Protesters Demand Stronger Rent Protections
Demonstrators set up tents in front of the Madrid regional government on the Puerta del Sol square (Thomas COEX)
Protesters camping in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol vowed Monday to maintain pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez after the forced eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal ignited nationwide outrage. Around 100 tents remain in the busy square following mass demonstrations that drew tens of thousands calling for cheaper rents and tougher tenant protections.
Eviction Becomes Rallying Point
Abascal — who had lived in her Madrid apartment for most of her life — was removed after a real estate firm bought the building and raised her rent by 275% to €2,650, according to the Madrid Tenants' Union. Images of police carrying her out on a stretcher after breaking down the door were widely circulated and helped make her a potent symbol of the growing housing crisis.
"I'm asking you all to be courageous, to fight, to defend what belongs to us," Abascal said in a video shared by the Tenants' Union. She was hospitalized following the eviction.
Government Response And Political Context
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to present a decree-law on Tuesday with measures reportedly including automatic renewal of rental contracts and stricter limits on evictions. Sánchez urged other parties to back the package, but his Socialist party does not hold a parliamentary majority, making approval uncertain. A similar bill was defeated earlier this year.
Voices From The Protest
Protesters at the camp said they will escalate the movement if the government’s measures fall short. "We are demanding that this decree-law be enacted, to protect the right to housing and prevent evictions," said Carlota, a 29-year-old who spent the night in the tents. Miriam Bue, spokesperson for the Spanish Tenants' Union, urged the government to adopt open-ended rental contracts to replace the current five-year terms.
Numbers That Matter
Rising prices are at the heart of the unrest: according to real estate portal Idealista, average rents per square metre have almost doubled over the last decade, reaching €15.10 per sqm in August. Buyer prices now average €2,355 per sqm — an increase of more than 50% over the same period, official figures show.
What’s Next
Sánchez was scheduled to visit a social housing project in Barcelona and to attend an awards ceremony near the Congress Palace, where protests are also planned. Activists say they will closely scrutinize any proposals and expand their actions if demands are not met.
Reporting by AFP; translated and edited for clarity.
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