The 87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked nationwide protests in Spain dies, tell me about this news today

María del Carmen Abascal Dies at 87: Spanish Housing Crisis Symbol Passes Away Following Controversial Eviction

María del Carmen Abascal, affectionately known across Spain as “Maricarmen,” passed away in a Madrid hospital at the age of 87. Her forced removal from the Madrid home she had inhabited for seven decades sparked widespread public outrage, large-scale street protests, and major political repercussions across the country.

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The Eviction That Triggered Mass Protests

In late September, Spanish police carried out the eviction order for Maricarmen’s apartment, removing her on a stretcher amid intense confrontations with tenant advocates gathered outside. Images of the 87-year-old being taken away in frail health rapidly circulated across news channels and social networks, turning her into an immediate national symbol for families and seniors struggling with unaffordable housing, rising rents, and aggressive real estate investment practices.

Following her removal, Abascal was admitted directly to the hospital suffering from severe exhaustion and deteriorating health.

Nationwide Unrest and Political Fallout

The incident galvanized Spain’s tenant rights movement. Encampments and demonstrations spread through major cities, notably filling Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square. The unrest coincided with legislative deadlock: after parliament rejected government decree measures designed to curb evictions and regulate rent surges, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced snap general elections scheduled for late November.

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While public pressure eventually forced an agreement with the property’s corporate owner to allow her to return under a long-term rental contract, tenant representatives and family members emphasized that the breakthrough arrived too late to reverse the severe toll the ordeal took on her health.

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Condolences and National Reaction

Following the confirmation of her death, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez publicly expressed his condolences, acknowledging the deep societal impact of her loss. Housing advocacy organizations, including the Madrid Tenants’ Union (Sindicato de Inquilinas), held moments of silence before marching toward parliament under banners demanding immediate structural reforms to protect elderly tenants and vulnerable renters.

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