Illa Denounces Eviction as 'Inhumane'
Catalan President Salvador Illa has condemned the forced eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from her Madrid home as 'classist and inhumane', calling on the PP, Vox, and Junts to back a national housing decree when parliament resumes. The eviction, which took place on Wednesday in Madrid’s Retiro district, involved court officials and police removing Abascal from her flat at 46 Alcalde Sainz de Baranda Street, where she had lived since 1956. This was the fourth attempt to evict her, and the action proceeded despite appeals from Madrid’s Tenants’ Union and the United Nations. Illa made his remarks during a speech in Sabadell on Thursday, stating: 'Yesterday we saw a shocking event: an 87-year-old person being evicted, heartlessly.' He criticised what he described as institutional greed, adding: 'This is not the model of society we want.'
Call for National Housing Reform
The President of the Generalitat linked the case to the pending housing decree, which aims to strengthen protections against evictions. The draft legislation, stalled since July, is now under renewed pressure to pass after the public outcry over Abascal’s case. Vice President Yolanda Díaz has demanded the Council of Ministers approve the decree by Tuesday, 29 September, including provisions for possible expropriation of Abascal’s flat. Sumar, Díaz’s party, insists on urgent action, while the PSOE seeks support from Junts through tax concessions. Illa urged parties that previously opposed the decree, PP, Vox, and Junts, to reverse their stance. 'I ask all those who voted against it, this right and extreme right that are mistaken, to rectify,' he said.
This is no longer having a conservative position on life. This is a classist, inhumane, greedy view. Greed. Enough is enough.
He stressed that Catalan institutions are actively combating housing speculation, citing existing measures to restrict speculative property purchases in high-pressure markets, as outlined in agreements between the Generalitat and Comuns.
Local Support and National Debate
In Catalonia, elderly residents facing housing insecurity can access support via municipal social services or the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion (call 012). Services include sheltered housing, day centres, and mobility aid such as the Social Fare Ticket for free or discounted public transport in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The Abascal case has reignited debate over Spain’s housing crisis, particularly the vulnerability of elderly tenants and the role of institutional policy. Illa affirmed that his government will continue advancing housing reforms: 'We will do it with rigor and solvency, because these are the models of society we are building. Prosperity.'
Primary sources: Generalitat de Catalunya, eb.gencat.cat. Reported by elperiodico.com, elconstitucional.es, euronews.com, dw.com, BBC, elpais.com, reuters.com, elcorreoweb.es, elespanol.com, 20minutos, cadenaser.com, El Periódico Barcelona.
