Evicted Woman's Death Fuels Housing Crisis Protests, Intensifies Spanish Political Turmoil
An 87-year-old woman's death after being evicted from her longtime Madrid home has amplified national anger over housing costs and contributed to a snap election called by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The death of an 87-year-old woman, María del Carmen Abascal, known as "Maricarmen," has intensified a political crisis in Spain, where nationwide protests over soaring housing costs have contributed to a snap election.
Abascal died Wednesday after being hospitalized following her eviction from a Madrid apartment where she had lived for seven decades. Her death occurred days after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called an early election for November 29, citing his government's failure to pass emergency housing measures through Parliament. The controversy has placed renewed pressure on Sánchez's Socialist Party as Spain grapples with widespread frustration over rising rents and housing affordability.
Abascal's eviction on September 23 garnered national attention when images showed the elderly woman, who used a wheelchair, being carried from her apartment on a stretcher. Police had cordoned off the street and removed demonstrators who attempted to halt the eviction.
These images ignited demonstrations in Madrid and other Spanish cities, transforming Abascal into a symbol of the nation's housing crisis. The real estate company responsible for the eviction reportedly sought to rent the apartment at a significantly higher price.
Under mounting public pressure, the company eventually agreed to allow Abascal to return to her home, but she died before she could move back. Her cause of death has not been disclosed.
Following news of her passing, demonstrators gathered outside Spain's Parliament and in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square. Protesters chanted, "Maricarmen lives, the fight goes on!"
Prime Minister Sánchez offered his condolences on X, stating, "All my love to Maricarmen's family and loved ones. A hug as well to all of us who feel this loss as our own today. Rest in peace."
Conservative opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also expressed sympathy and urged political leaders not to exploit the woman's death for political gain. "No campaign, no party, no use for political advantage," he wrote. "When faced with the death of a person, we must only show respect."
Abascal's eviction and subsequent death have become a focal point for housing activists demanding changes to Spain's rental policies as the country heads towards its November election.