Spanish housing protests continue after Maricarmen Abascal's death

Thousands protested outside Spain's parliament after the death of Maria del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old known as Maricarmen whose eviction became a symbol of the housing crisis.

Abascal died in hospital on Oct. 7 after being evicted from her Madrid home on Sept. 23. She had reached an agreement to return but died before she could do so. No cause of death has been announced, so a specific medical consequence of the eviction cannot be established.

On Oct. 8, demonstrators marched from a protest camp in Puerta del Sol to her former home. Protesters blamed the eviction, but those statements expressed their views rather than medical or investigative findings.

The housing crisis has intensified political conflict ahead of a snap general election on Nov. 29. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the vote after parliament rejected emergency housing measures. Opposition People's Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo accused the Socialists of exploiting the crisis for electoral advantage.

Tributes also caused arguments in Madrid's regional legislature. People's Party lawmakers refused a minute's silence, while left-wing representatives held their own commemorations.

A CIS survey conducted in June and released on Oct. 8 found that 76.3% supported market intervention to ensure housing access. Another 79% said housing rights should take precedence over treating homes as a commodity.

Ombudsman Angel Gabilondo said his office was preparing a housing report. He reiterated proposals for more public housing, limits on tourist rentals, greater rental assistance and stronger eviction protections for vulnerable households.