The Minister of Social Rights, Consumption, and Agenda 2030, Pablo Bustinduy, argues that the expropriation of Maricarmen's home, proposed by Sumar after the eviction of this 87-year-old woman from her home in the Retiro neighborhood (Madrid), would set a "precedent" that would allow intervention in the same way in other similar cases.
"There are many 'Maricarmenes', unfortunately. This case has become very visible because it is particularly shocking. There are many realities like this, so it is about intervening to restore the specific damage of this situation, but also to prevent it from happening again," he defended in an interview on "RNE", which was reported by Europa Press.
The head of Social Rights emphasized that, in the face of the eviction of this Madrid neighbor, there is an "evident urgency" that "cannot be left like this," and he stressed that the Executive has "several alternatives to do so," among them expropriation, which "can be done in a perfectly reasonable way" and, at the same time, "can set a precedent."
Bustinduy reiterated that "it is not just about restoring a situation of severe injustice as has occurred with Maricarmen, it is about ensuring that it cannot happen again," and he highlighted the protective measures against evictions included in the new housing decree that the Government is negotiating, as well as the route of expropriation "to solve the case of the property" of the evicted neighbor's apartment in Madrid.
"Private property has limits," the minister reminds
The minister has denounced that there is a "vulture fund" that has decided to "challenge" not only the Government but also Spanish society, expelling an elderly woman from her home to "make a profit," and rejecting both mediation attempts and anonymous donations aimed at stopping the eviction. In light of this situation, he recalled that Article 33 of the Constitution contemplates "formulas" to guarantee "what is the social function of property."
As he emphasized, "private property has limits" and "there are certain circumstances" in which "intervention can be made to recover the home and for Maricarmen to be able to reside in it again."
"It is legitimate to have legal debates. Evidently, since the affected party will challenge it, but I believe we cannot remain with our arms crossed in the face of a challenge to common sense and the morality of our society," defended the minister, who has also advocated for the public company Casa 47 to provide Maricarmen with an alternative housing.