Massive Madrid protest erupts over evictions, demanding action against housing funds

A large crowd assembled at Puerta del Sol, marching toward the Congress of Deputies before reconvening at the same plaza after nightfall to establish a makeshift camp reminiscent of the 2011 15-M movement. The rally, led by the Sindicato de Inquilinas, featured a towering image of Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman forcibly removed from her home by a speculative fund, which became the emblem of the housing crisis.

Demonstrators shouted accusations at local and regional authorities, including the president of the Community of Madrid and the mayor of Madrid, while also condemning national government inaction. Participants ranged from young renters holding up keys to older homeowners expressing solidarity, all united by the threat of soaring rents and predatory investment practices. Several activists called for the occupation of empty properties and for stronger constitutional protection of housing rights. The encampment, with dozens of tents, was intended to persist indefinitely, urging broader public support against evictions and speculative landlords.