Photos of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal being carried from her home on a stretcher, after living there for more than seventy years, have set off a political storm the Spanish government cannot ignore. Her eviction has put Spain’s housing crisis back in the spotlight and pushed Pedro Sánchez’s government into urgent talks with Junts to keep the situation from boiling over.
What began as a single eviction has become a national flashpoint. The government faces pressure from opposition parties and its own left-wing allies, as well as civil groups. People are demanding swift action to prevent more scenes like this, with memories of the financial crisis still fresh. Activists and politicians warn that another 15-M-style protest could be near if nothing changes.
The dispute over Maricarmen’s apartment had dragged on for at least eight years. This was the fourth attempt to evict her, Reuters and DW reported.
Talks between PSOE and Junts have moved beyond vague promises. Junts sources told EL MUNDO that the government is considering stopping evictions from homes owned by so-called ‘vulture funds’. It is also weighing tax breaks for renters and people with mortgages, while another proposal would help young people save for a home. Officials are discussing a ban on investment funds buying more homes, along with a plan to let seniors in care homes sell their former houses without paying capital gains tax. Families could receive help if their bank sells their mortgage for less than they owe.
Behind closed doors, the pressure is intense. The government is trying to break a legislative deadlock after PP, Vox and Junts blocked a previous housing decree. As the political cost of inaction rises, officials at Moncloa acknowledge that the Maricarmen case has changed the game. “It is evident that society requires answers,” one government source said. The crisis is pushing all parties to seek common ground.
For many in Spain, the housing market feels like a trap. Millions cannot afford to buy, while rents keep eating into people’s paychecks. After eight years of Sánchez in power, prices remain out of control. The government is taking heat from friends and foes alike. The left-wing Sumar coalition and leaders such as Ada Colau have threatened to withdraw their support unless PSOE delivers real reforms. Colau said Sumar must not be “complicit” in what she calls the “cowardice of the PSOE.”
Reuters and South China Morning Post reported that an investment fund had acquired the apartment Maricarmen was evicted from and sought to raise the rent by 275%. The case has become emblematic of a broader trend in Spain, where rising rents and the growing role of investment funds have fueled a nationwide housing crisis and sparked protests in Madrid and other cities.
As reported in a recent update, Maricarmen’s eviction is not an isolated case. More than 4,000 evictions have already taken place in the first quarter of this year. Each one adds to the sense of insecurity and anger. The government faces a challenge beyond one case: it must fix a system that has made housing Spain’s top social problem.
A new housing decree has been in the works since July. The next few days will show whether Spain’s politicians can break the deadlock and deliver relief before anger spills into the streets. Talks with Junts and the government’s willingness to consider major changes suggest it recognizes the old approach is not working. If the talks lead to action, that would be a rare sign of the system responding. If not, Maricarmen’s eviction could mark the start of a much bigger crisis for Spain’s leaders.
