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87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked mass protests in Spain dies
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Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid apartment on September 23 sparked mass protests and a political crisis in Spain, has died. According to a tenant association, she was removed from her home of over 70 years on a stretcher after an investor raised the rent by 275 percent to 2,650 euros. The eviction led to nationwide demonstrations, with protesters carrying signs reading 'We are all Maricarmen.' The case highlighted Spain's severe housing crisis and soaring rents, which have nearly doubled in ten years according to the Idealista real estate portal. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, leading a minority government, failed to secure a parliamentary majority for his housing proposals and called snap elections for late November. The tenant association stated that a deal was reached for Abascal to return to her apartment, but she died a few days later, calling the solution 'too late' and the situation 'completely avoidable.'
Source report
Maricarmen Abascal's fate became a symbol of rising rents and housing shortages in Spain. Source: MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP
After more than 70 years, Maricarmen Abascal lost her home in Madrid. The eviction of the 87-year-old woman triggered a political crisis in Spain. She has now died — shortly after a crucial agreement was reached.
The forced eviction of her apartment in Madrid sparked mass protests — and now 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal has died. "We regret to inform you that Maricarmen has died today," the tenants' association announced on Wednesday. Her case ignited a fierce political controversy, nationwide protests, and ultimately led to new elections.
The protests, which culminated in a protest camp in central Madrid, were sparked by the eviction of Maricarmen's apartment on September 23. The elderly woman was carried out of her Madrid home on a stretcher after an investor raised the rent by 275 percent to €2,650, according to the tenants' association. Maricarmen had lived in the apartment for more than 70 years.
Following the eviction, Maricarmen was hospitalized for exhaustion. Although an agreement was later reached allowing her to return to the apartment, she survived only a few days. "This solution comes too late," the tenants' association stated. "A completely avoidable situation following a harrowing process."
The case sparked nationwide outrage and anger. "We are all Maricarmen," read signs at subsequent demonstrations. Her fate dramatically highlighted the scale of the housing shortage and rent explosion in the country. The tenants' association declared that Maricarmen's case marked a turning point "in the history of this country."
Political Fallout
Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who led a minority government, subsequently attempted to push his proposals to address the housing crisis through parliament but failed to secure a sufficient majority. Last Monday, he announced new elections for the end of November. Currently, the opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party lead in the polls.
Broader Context
According to surveys, sharply rising rents and housing shortages have long been the number one problem for Spaniards. Data from the real estate portal Idealista shows that average rents in Spain have nearly doubled over the past ten years.
Source: afp/ceb
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