Spanish Pensioner Whose Eviction Sparked Protests Dies

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old pensioner whose eviction from her Madrid home of over 70 years ignited nationwide protests, has died, according to the Madrid Tenants' Union.

Abascal was forcibly removed from her flat on September 23 following a dispute over a proposed 275% rent increase. The incident, which saw riot police clear a barricade of furniture erected by supporters, garnered international attention and became a focal point for anger over Spain's escalating housing crisis. Abascal was taken to Gregorio Marañón Hospital after the eviction and was reportedly being treated for exhaustion.

The Madrid Tenants' Union announced her death, stating that her case marked "a turning point in the history of this country." The union added, "While a historic agreement was reached that would have allowed her to return to her home, this solution has come too late. An absolutely avoidable situation after a torturing process."

Abascal's father had initially rented the apartment in Madrid's Retiro district in 1956, and she continued to reside there under an old tenancy agreement after her parents' deaths. The property was purchased in 2018 by Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión SL, owned by brothers Ricardo Alonso Fernández and Fernando Alonso Fuentes. Reports indicate that the company proposed increasing her monthly rent from approximately €440 (£379) to €1,650 (£1,420), a sum significantly higher than her monthly pension of €1,350.

Three previous attempts to evict Abascal had been blocked by the courts. Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, stated that while an agreement had been reached for a new contract at a similar rent, it was too late. Duro had previously said Abascal would sign the agreement once she felt well enough. The deal was described as a "result of the social mobilisation."

The case drew widespread condemnation, with Amnesty International Spain calling it "a violation of human rights" and decrying a system that prioritizes "speculative interests of a vulture fund before Ms. Abascal's right to stay in her house."

British pianist James Rhodes had offered to pay Abascal's rent or buy the apartment to allow her to remain, but these proposals were reportedly rejected by the firm.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Madrid and other cities in the weeks following her eviction to protest and demand stronger tenant protections amid soaring rents and a housing shortage, estimated by the Bank of Spain to be around 700,000 homes nationwide. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government has pledged to introduce housing relief measures.

Abascal had described the company's actions as "inhuman, and all in order to make money." She also criticized national, regional, and city authorities for her plight, stating, "You cannot make a person live for seven years with a machete hanging over their neck."

The eviction became a potent symbol of the challenges faced by renters in Spain, as housing costs continue to rise and supply struggles to meet demand. Critics point to short-term tourist rentals as a factor contributing to increased prices and reduced availability in popular areas.