An 87‑year‑old Madrid resident, Maricarmen Abascal, died on Wednesday after a month of hospitalization following her eviction, a move that sparked nationwide housing protests and ultimately led the government to call an early election. The eviction, carried out by police and social workers on 23 September, removed Abascal from a home she had occupied for more than 70 years.
Abascal, who uses a wheelchair, was taken on a stretcher from her apartment and remained in hospital until her death. A real‑estate firm that had forced the eviction to re‑rent the property at a higher price later reached an agreement allowing her to return, and her lawyer said she was “happy” before her passing. In a video recorded from a hospital bed, she urged others to fight for their homes.
Following the news, thousands marched from Puerta del Sol toward parliament, chanting “This is not a death. It’s a murder!” Protesters set up camps in major squares and carried signs that read “Not even one more Maricarmen!” A nationwide general strike on housing was announced for 11 November, and demonstrations spread to other Spanish cities.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez posted a message on X expressing condolences and said he would honor Abascal’s legacy. He has shifted the political narrative from the migrant crisis in Ceuta and corruption scandals to the housing crisis, hoping to rally support amid rising rents.
The tenants’ union and territorial policy minister Angel Victor Torres described Abascal as a symbol of the struggle faced by elderly and young people in securing homes. Left‑wing MP Gabriel Rufián warned that the housing crisis could topple the government, urging Sánchez to act swiftly.
