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Move toward a settlement in Madrid eviction dispute

Spain protests have entered a new phase for 87-year-old Maria del Carmen Abascal, who was removed from her home last week. According to Abascal’s lawyer, the Madrid property company has put forward an offer that would allow the pensioner to return to her apartment.

Under the proposal announced on Tuesday, Abascal’s monthly payment would be capped at about $570 for the next eight years. That amount was said to equal roughly 30% of her pension. The development follows the public backlash that intensified after last week’s eviction.

Rising rent draws nationwide outrage

Abascal’s case has become one of the symbols of Spain’s deepening housing crisis. The reason is that, after an international investment fund bought the building, the rent was raised by more than 200% to around $1,880. The increase was said to be aimed at removing the long-term tenant and turning the property into more profitable tourist apartments.

Protests spread from Puerta del Sol to other cities

The Madrid Tenants Union organized demonstrations and tent vigils at Puerta del Sol Square in the capital. The protests, attended by tens of thousands of people, later spread to dozens of cities. After the landlord’s concessionary offer was announced, the union described the development as an important victory.

  • Mass demonstrations were held at Puerta del Sol.
  • The protests spread beyond Madrid to many cities.

Government to take housing package to parliament on Friday

The Spanish government led by Pedro Sanchez said it would submit a series of measures to a parliamentary vote on Friday in response to growing anger. The most likely measure to pass would extend expiring tenant protections until 2030. The aim is to prevent vulnerable tenants such as Abascal from being evicted during that period.

Even so, the package does not fully meet the protesters’ demands. The measures are expected to face opposition from conservative parties, which are seen as leaning more toward landlords’ interests.

Central bank data shows the shortfall is widening

According to the Bank of Spain, housing supply in the country is lagging demand by about 755,000 homes. The gap could reach 1 million homes by 2028, the bank warns. Abascal’s case has emerged as one of the most visible examples of this broader structural problem.

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