Maricarmen Abascal, symbol of Spain’s housing protests, dies at 87

Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old Madrid resident whose eviction helped ignite nationwide protests over Spain’s housing crisis, has died, the Madrid Tenants’ Union announced Wednesday. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Abascal had been hospitalized since Sept. 23, when police and social workers removed her by stretcher from the apartment where she had lived for more than 70 years. The Irish Times, citing Reuters, reported that she faced a 230% rent increase after an investment fund bought the property.

Her eviction prompted demonstrations across Spain and an encampment in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. After her death was announced, thousands marched from the square toward parliament. Protesters observed a minute of silence before chanting accusations that the eviction had caused her death, although no official cause has been announced.

Abascal’s family, lawyer and the tenants’ union had secured an agreement allowing her to return under a new rental contract after leaving hospital, but she died before she could do so. The union said the agreement had come “too late” and vowed to continue mobilizing for stronger tenant protections.

The protests intensified after parliament rejected two government decrees intended to curb evictions, discourage property speculation and strengthen renters’ rights. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez subsequently called an early general election for Nov. 29, and the government reapproved similar emergency housing measures this week. Trade unions also announced a nationwide housing strike for Nov. 11.