Protesters Demand Tenant Protections in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol

Protesters camped at Madrid’s historic Puerta del Sol plaza, demanding stronger laws to protect renters. This followed the eviction last Wednesday of 87-year-old Maricarmen. The action on Sunday, September 27, 2026, marks the second day of protests against Spain’s housing crisis. Demonstrators, including multigenerational families, continued their protests from Saturday.

Tens of thousands had marched through Madrid, protesting the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal from her long-term home in the upscale Retiro neighborhood. The protesters are demanding measures such as enhanced tenant protections, anti-fraud actions, and a ban on evictions without alternative housing available. Many pitched tents at Puerta del Sol, refusing to leave after the Saturday march.

“The housing situation is unsustainable,” said Natalia Navarro, a 27-year-old actress among the campers. “We are all out on the street because we are fed up.” Alicia del Río, a spokesperson for the Madrid Tenants’ Union leading the protests, stated, “The wave of indignation and anger that has been unleashed is now unstoppable.” Del Río emphasized the need for new laws, including indefinite rental contracts.

Spain’s Socialist-led government is anticipated to announce new measures in its weekly cabinet meeting next Tuesday. “Maricarmen has been the last straw that sparked this social unrest,” commented Simón de la Riva, a teacher participating in the protests. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed Abascal directly at a Socialist Party rally in Madrid, mentioning forthcoming housing measures.

On September 23, Abascal was carried from her apartment on a stretcher, placed in an ambulance as supporters chanted her nickname, “Maricarmen.” Images of the eviction spread widely, fueling criticism towards public authorities and real estate firms accused of advocating for evictions.

Abascal criticized Prime Minister Sánchez, questioning his awareness of daily evictions. The eviction and demonstrations remind many of the significant “indignados movement” beginning May 15, 2011, where citizens protested evictions and related issues.

Spanish media highlighted the history of Abascal’s residence. Her father rented the apartment in 1956 and she remained under rent controls after his passing. The building changed ownership in 2018. Urbagestión, an investment fund, acquired the unit, raising her rent dramatically, eventually lowering it, but still beyond her pension’s reach.

The housing crisis encompasses rising costs and a shortage of homes, challenging Spaniards despite economic growth. The Bank of Spain estimated a shortage of around 550,000 homes, particularly in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

Spain’s subsidized public rental housing accounts for less than 2% of the nation’s stock, contrasting starkly with the European Union average of 8%.