Alberto Núñez Feijóo has accused the government of Pedro Sánchez of exploiting the case of 87-year-old Maricarmen for political purposes, while also promising the construction of one million homes in Spain. The leader of the Partido Popular spoke on 25 September amid widespread debate about evictions and rising rents. He called the handling of this particular case “discouraging”, but stressed that lasting relief could only be achieved through more new-build housing.
The political controversy was sparked by the eviction of Maricarmen in Madrid, which was carried out under a court order on 23 September. The woman received medical attention afterwards. The incident has sparked protests in the capital and beyond, reigniting debate about the responsibilities of the state, regions and municipalities. The focus also included the treatment of vulnerable tenants and the role of major property companies.
Feijóo coupled his criticism of the government with figures on the social situation. According to him, there had been “around 24,000 or 25,000 evictions” last year, “about 11 per cent more than the year before”. He also said that purchase and rental prices had “risen inexorably”. He blamed the government for failing to solve the problem in its “eight years” in the Moncloa . He gave no specific implementation steps for the announced housebuilding programme; funding and scheduling remain unresolved and are viewed differently by political opponents and experts.
The government, meanwhile, faces accusations of using the individual case of Maricarmen for communication purposes. In public debate, the cabinet pointed to the legal limits on individual interventions and the responsibilities of different levels of government. Regional and municipal politicians signalled their willingness to consider emergency solutions in particularly difficult cases, while also stressing the need for reliable rules to protect especially vulnerable households.
The case has had immediate political repercussions: it prompted protests in Madrid, drew sharp statements from the government and opposition, and fuelled calls for further measures. Proposals under discussion include more publicly funded housing, clearer procedures to prevent evictions, and measures to curb speculative exploitation. Whether, and to what extent, new rules will have an effect in the short term remains unclear. What is certain is that housing has once again become a major point of conflict in Spain—and is shaping the tone of the debate ahead of forthcoming elections.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).