Sánchez vows to pass housing decree on Tuesday amid outrage over Maricarmen eviction

Sánchez vows to pass housing decree after Madrid eviction

Poinews.com – Sánchez vows to pass housing measures through Spain’s Council of Ministers on Tuesday as anger grows over the eviction of Maricarmen, an 87-year-old pensioner removed from the Madrid home where she had lived for seven decades.

Speaking at a Socialist Party rally in Getafe on Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government was working “against the clock” to finalise a housing decree. He urged parliamentary groups to make a final effort to ensure the measures can secure support in Congress.

“Maricarmen, I have a message for you,” Sánchez said, describing the housing emergency as “a matter of humanity” that should rise above political divisions.

Maricarmen’s eviction becomes a symbol of the housing crisis

Maricarmen was evicted from her flat in Madrid’s Retiro district and taken from the property on a stretcher. She remains in hospital. In a video recorded on Saturday, she appealed to Sánchez to introduce protections that would prevent others experiencing what she had endured.

The building had been bought by investment fund Urbagestión, which has faced criticism from neighbourhood activists. Madrid City Council rejected an offer from the fund concerning the apartment and has begun separate mediation efforts.

The case has sharpened concerns over rising housing costs, evictions and the vulnerability of tenants when residential buildings change ownership. For many campaigners, the issue extends beyond one home to the wider availability of affordable rentals and protections for long-term residents.

Puerta del Sol protest camp expands the pressure

Demonstrators set up an overnight camp in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol after Saturday’s mass housing march. Around 100 tents transformed the central square into a meeting point for activists, who organised shared meals, yoga sessions and banner-making workshops.

Organisers have not said how long the camp will remain, but support actions have been announced in Burgos, León, Córdoba and Almería. Sánchez did not directly address the Puerta del Sol encampment during his remarks.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar visited the camp on Sunday to show support. He told RTVE that Maricarmen’s case was “the last straw” and said politicians must act because they are responsible for governing.

“It is absolutely unbearable for Spanish society to have this problem for another day,” Almodóvar said.

Coalition partners differ over the response

Sánchez vows to pass housing legislation while his governing coalition remains divided over how to respond to Maricarmen’s specific case. Sumar, the coalition’s left-wing partner, has argued that her former home should be expropriated so she can return.

Félix Bolaños, a minister from Sánchez’s Socialist Party, rejected that proposal on constitutional grounds, saying it does not have a clear fit within Spain’s Constitution. Sumar minister Pablo Bustinduy said his party would continue defending expropriation.

The planned decree would need enough backing in Congress to remain in force after Cabinet approval. Government sources have expressed confidence that an agreement can be reached, while talks with Junts have reportedly considered limiting evictions involving properties owned by investment funds and stopping such funds from acquiring more homes.

Podemos has warned against weakening the proposed package during negotiations. The opposition People’s Party has accused the government of using Maricarmen’s situation for political purposes.

FAQ: What happens next in Spain’s housing debate?

When is the housing decree expected? The government plans to bring the decree to the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. Its longer-term future will depend on whether it gains sufficient support in Congress.

Why has Maricarmen’s case drawn national attention? Her eviction after seven decades in the same Madrid flat has become a focal point for public concern about tenant protections, investment funds and the cost of housing.

What are protesters demanding? Demonstrators are calling for lower housing costs and stronger safeguards for tenants, particularly when homes are bought by investment funds or other new owners.