Sandego.net – The removal of an 87-year-old woman from the Madrid apartment she had called home for more than seven decades has turned into a national symbol of anxiety over housing access in Spain. María del Carmen Abascal, widely known as Maricarmen, was evicted on Wednesday from her residence in the El Retiro district, prompting demonstrations in Madrid and other major cities.

Her case has brought renewed attention to the insecurity felt by many tenants as rents rise and long-established residents face pressure from property owners. For supporters, the issue extends beyond a single apartment near El Retiro Park: it is a question of whether older people and low-income tenants can remain in the communities where they have spent their lives.…