Evicted grandmother chains herself to Spain's central bank

Madrid, May 1 (IANS/EFE) A 76-year-old grandmother who lost her home to debt chained herself to the gate of Spain's central bank here Monday and asked Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to address the "injustices" affecting many people in the Iberian nation.

Angeles Belmonte was evicted five months ago from her home in the southern town of Nijar when her son fell behind on a loan she co-signed.

Belmonte and another of her children, Miguel Angel Navarro, 55, spent around two hours chained to the entrance gate of the Banco de Espana, relenting only when police arrived to warn them they would be subject to fines if they stayed.

With no money "to buy bread", Belmonte said she couldn't afford another fine on top of the 90 euros ($119) in penalties she already faces for two earlier protests at a bank branch.

The septuagenarian currently devotes her small widow's pension to supporting her eight grandchildren, as all three of her children are out of work.

One of Belmonte's offspring, Miguel Angel Navarro, became famous in Spain as the "trucker without a truck" after appearing outside a courthouse in diapers as part of protest.

Navarro says he lost his truck - and is on the verge of losing his house - because an employer failed to pay him.

The economic woes that have pushed Spain's unemployment rate to 24.44 percent have also led to a wave of mortgage foreclosures and evictions.

--IANS/EFE

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