María del Carmen Abascal, known as Maricarmen, has died in hospital at the age of 87. Her September eviction from a Madrid apartment became the focus of protests and debate over housing access.
Abascal died on Wednesday at Gregorio Marañón Hospital. Her cause of death was not publicly disclosed. She had lived in the Retiro district apartment for about 70 years and was evicted on September 23 after it was acquired by Urbagestión Desarrollo e Inversión.
A week later, the owner agreed to a new rental arrangement that would have allowed her to return after leaving hospital. Madrid’s municipal housing company EMVS, which helped mediate the agreement, told ABC that the contract was personal to Abascal and expired when she died. The owner can now use the property again.
Her eviction prompted demonstrations and a wider debate about housing affordability. Protesters in Madrid observed a minute of silence after news of her death.