María del Carmen Abascal, known as Maricarmen, died in hospital on Wednesday, two weeks after she was evicted from the Madrid apartment where she had lived for about 70 years. Her case became a rallying point for protests over evictions and housing costs.
Abascal’s death was confirmed by her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, and housing activists. The cause was not disclosed. The 87-year-old was taken to hospital on a stretcher after her eviction on September 23. Her lawyer said her health was fragile.
The case drew attention across Spain. Demonstrations against evictions took place in Madrid and other cities. In the capital, about 1,000 people had camped for several days in the central Puerta del Sol square. After news of Abascal’s death, protesters gathered near parliament and chanted, “Maricarmen lives, the fight goes on.”
The Madrid Tenants’ Union said an agreement that would have allowed Abascal to return home was reached too late. The apartment’s owners agreed to her return after sustained public pressure. She had spent most of her life in the home, first sharing it with her parents and brother. After retiring in 1998, she continued to live there among family photographs and other personal belongings.
The eviction became a symbol of Spain’s debate over housing affordability. The source article cited Idealista data showing average rent per square metre rising over the decade from €8.20 to €15.10. It also cited government figures saying 26% of renters spend an average of 40% of their income on housing and utilities. Publicly owned rental housing accounts for less than 2% of Spain’s housing stock, compared with an EU average of 8%.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sent condolences to Abascal’s family and to those who felt her loss personally. Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez also expressed sorrow. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo urged people to avoid political exploitation and show respect for the bereaved.
Abascal’s death has brought the housing crisis back to the centre of Spain’s political debate. The source article said the dispute over evictions and rents had added pressure on the government and contributed to the decision to call an early parliamentary election for November 29.