Carlos Bardem at Maricarmen’s attempted eviction: “Cities are meant to be lived in”

Carlos Bardem said at the attempted eviction of Maricarmen that “cities are meant to be lived in, not for a few people to make business out of them”. The 87-year-old woman, who lives in Madrid’s Retiro neighbourhood, is facing eviction, and the actor was among the demonstrators present.

In remarks to the newspaper Público, Carlos Bardem strongly criticised the current urban model and property speculation. He traced the origin of the conflict to “a problem of a political and economic model based on the profit of a few at the expense of the well-being of the majority”.

The actor called for an urgent change in the management of urban areas, so that residents are prioritised over financial interests. Outside the home, he said: “We have to reclaim our cities. I insist, they cannot be an amusement park for speculators and tourists; cities are meant to be lived in, not for a few people to do business with them.”

Carlos Bardem also targeted Madrid’s administrations, accusing them of a lack of commitment to protecting the right to housing. “I expect nothing from the Community of Madrid and the city council because they are complicit in, and beneficiaries of, turning our cities into an amusement park for speculators and tourists,” he said.

He also called on state authorities to intervene to reverse the situation. In his view, “the central government should take action” to effectively protect families affected by evictions and curb rising prices.

Finally, the actor was particularly critical of the effectiveness of the current legislation passed by Congress. He said that “the housing legislation introduced by the central government is far too limited for my taste, but it is not even applied in the communities where these gentlemen declare themselves in rebellion”.