Maricarmen Vs The ‘Vultures’: A “social tragedy” mobilising Spaniards

Protests are ongoing in Madrid right now, with many demonstrators holding signs and banners that read “Maricarmen vs the Vultures”. “Maricarmen, you are not alone.” Or “Ni una Maricarmen más.” Not one more Maricarmen.

The story is centred around the Retiro quarter of the Spanish capital, one of the chic and desirable areas in the capital, by the Prado Museum and the so-called Golden Triangle of Art.

87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal lived in an apartment there from the 1950s. She was evicted by the apartment owners, a real estate organisation, on Wednesday. Her long-term lease had expired. There have been protests to stop it happening, which have morphed into protests to stop it happening to others and bring about better social protections in one of the most desirable cities in Europe, with a housing deficit.

The government is blaming the city council; the Madrid council is blaming the government.