Hundreds rally to stop eviction of 87-year-old tenant in Madrid

A crowd of several hundred gathered on Tuesday evening in front of Maricarmen's residence on Alcalde Sainz de Baranda to oppose a pending eviction that could be enforced early Wednesday. The elderly tenant, who uses a wheelchair, has lived in the Madrid Retiro neighbourhood for more than seven decades and faces removal by the owner, Urbagestión. Protesters, including actors Carlos Bardem and Juan Diego Botto, singer Ana Belén, and influencer lawyer Inés Hernand, pledged to remain until a judicial officer and police arrive.

Simultaneously, the court has received proposals ranging from a housing-ministry purchase offer to a writer’s pledge to pay the inflated rent. The tenants' union says the landlord could meet a previous offer of €1,650 per month, but it remains to be seen whether the owner will accept. The demonstration reflects broader discontent with housing speculation and eviction practices in Spain.