The Spanish government is poised to implement a ban on evictions following widespread public outcry over the forcible removal of an elderly woman from her residence.
Maricarmen Abascal, who is 87 years old, was taken from her home on a stretcher but is now contemplating a proposal to return.
Demonstrators have been advocating for significant legal changes, including a freeze on rent increases and the automatic renewal of rental agreements without unjustified hikes.
In response to the protests sparked by Abascal’s eviction, Spain’s coalition administration has proposed measures that include a moratorium on evictions until 2030, aiming to tackle the ongoing housing crisis.
On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters remained camped in one of Madrid’s central squares, voicing their discontent over Abascal’s removal, which occurred the previous Wednesday.
Protesters are insisting on legal reforms such as rent freezes and the automatic extension of leases without excessive rent increases.
Health Minister Monica Garcia announced that the ruling Socialist party had reached an agreement with their coalition partner, Sumar, to introduce new policies, including extending lease contracts until 2028 and prohibiting so-called vulture funds from participating in the housing market.
Despite these proposals, the minority government faces challenges in garnering support within a fragmented parliamentary landscape.
Housing Minister Isabel Rodriguez indicated that the government intends to expand the definition of vulture funds beyond major private equity firms to include any entity that purchases properties for speculative purposes. She cited UrbaGestion, the company that evicted Abascal, as an example of an organization that may fall under this new classification.
The proposed measures will be presented in two separate decrees for a parliamentary vote scheduled for Friday, with the first decree expected to secure a majority.
According to Social Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy, the contentious issue of automatic lease renewals will be addressed in the second decree.
“It is time to take action in the speculative housing market and achieve a balance between everyday citizens and vulture funds,” Garcia stated on social media.
Junts, the Catalan pro-independence party whose support is crucial for the decree’s passage, expressed on Tuesday that they are yet to reach consensus on all proposed measures and are advocating for protections for small landlords, who constitute the majority of property owners in Spain.
“We all agree that evictions involving properties owned by funds, particularly vulture funds managed by individuals controlling large sums of money, must be halted,” said Miriam Nogueras, a spokesperson for Junts, during an RTVE interview.
She cautioned against categorizing small investors—those who have put their savings into properties such as apartments or restaurants—alongside large investment funds, calling it a misstep.
The tenants’ union in Madrid criticized the government’s strategy of dividing the measures into two decrees and announced that protests, including the encampment in Madrid and others across the nation, would persist until all demands are fully addressed, with additional demonstrations planned.
On Tuesday, Abascal’s attorney revealed that UrbaGestion had proposed a preliminary agreement that could enable her return home, contingent upon her acceptance of the terms.
This arrangement would require her to pay 30% of her pension over the next eight years, totaling approximately 500 Euros per month (around $812), which aligns with her previous rental expenses.
“She should never have been compelled to leave her home,” Beatriz Duro, Abascal’s lawyer, told reporters. “I hope this situation prompts a collective response to the housing crisis.”
