Thousands protest in Madrid against evictions after the case of Maricarmen, 87 years old

Thousands of people took to the streets this Saturday in the center of Madrid to protest against the evictions, under the slogan Not one more Maricarmen. Let's point out those responsible, a protest that has culminated in a camp in Puerta del Sol and that takes place after the eviction of Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman who lived for rent in an apartment in the Retiro neighborhood and whose eviction ended up being carried out this Wednesday.

At the beginning of the march, which started precisely from Puerta del Sol in the direction of Madrid City Hall, the Madrid Tenants Union once again demanded that the Government immediately approve, in the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, a housing decree with measures to intervene in the rental market and prevent new evictions of vulnerable people.

This petition, which has been baptized by the Union itself as 'Maricarmen Decree' in honor of the elderly woman who had to leave her home after more than 70 years residing in it, includes structural mechanisms to prevent evictions. In addition, this organization demands a reform of the Urban Leasing Law (LAU) to regulate seasonal and room rentals, as well as the freezing of current rental prices.

Subsequently, and according to the Union, several of the protesters spontaneously deployed tents in Puerta del Sol, a gesture that according to the organization itself "escalates the pressure on the Government." The campers assure that their intention is to remain in Sol until their requests are met.

The Union also asks to extend the rental contracts and establish their automatic renewal to make them indefinite. Beyond these requests, the demonstration also asked for the support of CCOO and UGT, which they encouraged to call a general strike for housing and the cost of living in case the decree does not prosper.

For the moment, waiting for what is finally approved this Tuesday, Sumar announced this Saturday that they will not appear in the Council of Ministers if the decree that the Government wants to approve on housing does not bring with it a package of truly effective measures to alleviate the housing problem.

One of the issues raised these days is that this decree includes tax credits for home owners, as Junts demands, so that the Catalan party supports the decree when it passes through the Congress of Deputies. However, parties to the left of the PSOE have been critical of these measures. "Patches are not worth it," said the Minister of Youth and Children of Sumar, Sira Rego, this Saturday.