87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal called on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on 26 September from hospital to have the Council of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros) pass a decree-law on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. In a video shared by the tenants’ union Sindicato de Inquilinas she speaks of a “decreto Maricarmen”, which she says should be a first step “to end the system” that had enabled her eviction She thanks her supporters and calls for continued participation in protests.
This is her second video since she was admitted to hospital after the eviction. Abascal was evicted on 23 September 2026 from the flat in Madrid where, she says, she had lived for 71 years. Images of the operation sparked protests in several cities and a wide-ranging debate about the protection of vulnerable tenants. The discussion has involved the Ministerio de Vivienda, the regional government and Madrid City Council.
The demand explicitly calls for a decree-law to provide additional short-term protection for particularly vulnerable households. In Spain, the Council of Ministers can pass such decree-laws; they take effect immediately but must subsequently be approved by the Congress of Deputies Whether the government will actually adopt a corresponding text on 29 September 2026 remains uncertain. No official announcements had been made by Saturday.
According to Spanish media reports, the Ministerio de Vivienda tried to mediate before the eviction. The owners reportedly rejected negotiations. Regardless, the events have increased political pressure. Supporters of stronger tenant protection see the case as a test of further measures targeting large property owners and funds. Opponents warn of legal repercussions for existing contracts and investment decisions. The specific contents of a “decreto Maricarmen” are not yet known; nor has there been any agreement between the government, the region and the city on an immediate housing solution for Abascal.
What is clear is that the video address is documented and dated, the eviction on 23 September 2026 is confirmed, and the next meeting of the Council of Ministers is scheduled for Tuesday. Everything else – whether a draft will be presented, how far-reaching it will be and whether Congress will approve it – remains a political and legal possibility for now, not a settled matter.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).