Eviction of 87-Year-Old Woman Sparks National Movement in Spain
An 87-year-old woman's eviction has sparked a national movement in Spain. Maricarmen Abascal was forced out of her Madrid home by an investment firm, highlighting the country's housing crisis.
A dramatic image of an 87-year-old woman being wheeled out on a stretcher by paramedics sparked a national movement in Spain. The pensioner, Maricarmen Abascal, was not ill, but rather being evicted from her Madrid home by an investment firm.
Maricarmen had lived in her apartment for over 70 years, taking over the lease from her father in 1956. The rent was capped, but when the apartment was bought by Urbagestión in 2018, the monthly rent soared from €500 ($811) to €1,650 ($2,678). With her monthly benefits totaling €1,350 ($2,192), Maricarmen was forced to fight for her home in court.
A Sanctuary for Seven Decades
Days before her eviction, Maricarmen showed writer David Uclés around her Retiro home, sharing memories of her life there.