Violent scenes erupted in Madrid on Wednesday as riot police clashed with hundreds of protesters trying to stop the eviction of an 87-year-old disabled woman from her apartment in the El Retiro district. The eviction was the fourth attempt to remove Maricarmen, who has a 50% disability and is about to turn 88, from her home. Demonstrators had gathered overnight, blocking the way to prevent the forced removal. Among the protesters were members of the Madrid and Barcelona tenants’ unions, as well as celebrities like actor Carlos Bardem and singer Ana Belén. Police used tear gas and batons to clear the area, allowing a judicial committee to proceed with the eviction, which was completed by Wednesday morning. Maricarmen had lived in the apartment for 71 years, but the rent was increased from €500 to €1,650 per month. She receives a state pension of €1,350, which is insufficient to cover the new rent. The developer who bought the building offered her the chance to buy the apartment for €247,000, an amount she could not afford. An unnamed "prominent" writer offered to cover the €1,150 difference between her pension and the rent indefinitely, but the offer was not accepted. Meanwhile, protesters occupied the stairs leading to her apartment, and neighbors provided food and offered bathroom access during the standoff. In a video recorded by the local tenants’ union, Maricarmen thanked the protesters for their support and urged them to continue their efforts peacefully. She explained that the original 1956 rental contract was in her father’s name, passed to her mother upon his death, and then sublet to her after her mother’s death in 2008. The landlord, Urbagestión SL, successfully argued in the Supreme Court that the subletting was invalid and that the contract was no longer valid. Urbagestión SL has not yet commented on the situation. Aldo Reverte, a spokesperson for the Confederation of Tenants’ Unions, said Maricarmen’s case highlights the growing problem of housing insecurity when landlords have control over residential properties. Beatriz Duro, Maricarmen’s lawyer, said the owner has refused to negotiate or accept any offers and requested a place to relocate Maricarmen’s personal belongings. According to one report, 4,000 evictions have already taken place in Spain this year, reflecting a broader trend of housing instability across the country.