Spanish Riot Police Evict 87-Year-Old Woman After Rent Hike Sparks Protests

Dramatic footage captured Spanish riot police forcing their way into the Madrid apartment of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal on Wednesday, after supporters barricaded the door to prevent her eviction. The eviction followed a 275% rent increase imposed by an investment firm, sparking widespread protests across Spain.

Inside the apartment, police were seen breaking through a barricade of furniture as Abascal, her cousin, niece, and members of the Tenants' Union watched. Supporters reported that Abascal was given only 30 minutes to gather her belongings before being taken away in an ambulance by health workers. Violent clashes occurred outside the building in Madrid's Retiro district between police and demonstrators attempting to halt the eviction.

The firm responsible for the legal action, Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión SL, is owned by investment brothers Ricardo Alonso Fernández and Fernando Alonso Fuentes. The firm purchased Abascal's apartment in 2018. She had been paying approximately €440 per month under an older lease agreement before the firm proposed a new rent of €1,650 per month.

Abascal's lawyer stated that the owners had not communicated directly with her in the eight years since acquiring the property. The Alonso brothers, both lawyers, have managed Urbagestión since its founding in 2005. The firm reportedly paid around €240,000 for the apartment. They are also associated with numerous other companies in sectors including property, construction, and pharmacy advisory services.

The Supreme Court had ruled in favor of the firm, clearing the path for the eviction, according to the Madrid Renters' Union. Police forcibly removed dozens of activists who had gathered outside the building to protest, drawing cries of "shame!" from onlookers.

After leaving her home, Abascal was transported to Gregorio Marañón Hospital. She declined an offer of temporary emergency housing from the city and is reportedly staying with a relative for the time being. Amnesty International Spain condemned the eviction as a "violation of human rights" and criticized a system that prioritizes "speculative interests of a vulture fund before Maricarmen's right to stay in her house."

In a prior interview, Abascal described the company as "inhuman" and motivated solely by profit, lamenting the constant threat to her housing for seven years. She also attributed her situation to failures by national, regional, and city authorities.

Socialist Housing Minister Isabel Rodriguez stated that the government had attempted to pass legislation to prohibit such evictions and accused the conservative-led Madrid region of facilitating such practices for investors. Housing affordability has been a significant issue in Spain for years, with supply lagging behind demand and prices for both rent and purchase soaring.

Many residents blame short-term tourist rentals for driving up costs and reducing housing availability, leading to protests in popular tourist destinations like Barcelona. The Spanish housing market has also been impacted by the 2008 financial crisis, leaving hundreds of thousands of unfinished homes and developed land without construction. The Bank of Spain estimates a current shortage of nearly 700,000 homes, contributing to increased demand and pricing out local residents. This has intensified anger towards tourists and non-residents purchasing properties in holiday areas, with protests occurring in cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and Palma.