Get you up to speed: The elderly woman who sparked a snap election in Spain | News World
Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old resident of Madrid, was evicted from her home of over 70 years on September 23 after her rent soared from €440 to €2,650 per month. Her eviction has sparked widespread protests in Madrid, with campaigners advocating for stronger tenant rights.
Maricarmen Abascal was taken to a hospital after her eviction and has been informed by a court that she may return to her flat. The government initially proposed plans to implement a moratorium on evictions until 2030, among other reforms, but these measures failed to secure parliamentary support, triggering early elections set for November 29.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a snap election for November 29 following the failure of two housing decrees aimed at stemming evictions and regulating rental markets, a decision that reflects mounting pressure from public protests and political deadlock. In response to the crisis, opposition leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo pledged to double homebuilding in Spain, promising to construct 200,000 units annually if elected.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether Maricarmen Abascal will be able to regain permanent residency in her home following the court’s decision.
Elderly woman’s eviction sparks impending snap election in Spain
Maricarmen Abascal has become the face of the housing protests, pictured just minutes before being evicted in Madrid, Spain.
(Picture: Europa Press)
Spain is heading to the polls at the end of November after a row over housing led to parliamentary deadlock.
One elderly pensioner evicted from the home she had lived in for 70 years after the new landlord raised the rent by 430 per cent has become the face of the rising angry protests.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was left with no option but to call the snap election, after two decrees aimed at ending evictions and curbing tourist housing were defeated last week in the Congress of Deputies.
Huge demonstrations following MPs’ rejection of decrees saw protesters camp in more than 1,200 tents in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and unions call for a general strike.
Anger over the shortage of housing and rental laws bubbled over after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal faced eviction after her monthly bill leapt up from €440€ to €2,650 per month since 2018.
Protesters camp out in more than 1,200 tents in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol following outrage over housing evictions (Picture: Getty Images)
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Her eviction on a stretcher on September 23 provoked widespread protests as campaigners pushed for stronger rights for tenants.
Ms Abascal was taken to a hospital and has since been told by a court she will be able to return to her flat.
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez has called a general election for November 29 (Picture: Reuters)
Two decrees brought forward by the government promised a package of measures including a moratorium on evictions until 2030, a VAT hike for tourist apartments and tax breaks for landlords to encourage a drop in rents.
However the plans were thrown into turmoil after right-wing Catalan separatist party Junts voted against the decrees, ending Sanchez’s fragile majority.
Addressing the nation this morning, Sanchez asked voters for a ‘larger progressive majority’ in an early election scheduled for November 29.
The move is seen as a gamble with Sanchez’s Socialist Party currently trailing in nearly all polls; however the leader is hoping to capitalise on the wave of anger generated by his opponent’s refusal to back his plans to alleviate the housing crisis.
Sanchez, who has led Spain through a series of coalitions since 2018, has also come under pressure from corruption scandals involving both him and his wife, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct within his party.
His government has also faced criticism for his handling of the migrant crisis in Ceuta, the Spanish outpost on the coast of Morocco.
A loss for Sanchez would spell the end of one of Europe’s few left-leaning governments at a time when far-right insurgents make gains across the continent, notably in France and Germany.
Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, the leader of the opposition People’s Party, responded to the election announcement by pledging to double homebuilding in Spain to 200,000 units a year and cut taxes
While his party is likely to retain its position as the largest in parliament, Feijoo is likely to require support from the far-right anti-immigration Vox, to govern
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