87-Year-Old Woman Whose Eviction Sparked Nationwide Protests in Spain Has Died

María del Carmen “Maricarmen” Abascal, the 87-year-old Spanish woman whose forced eviction from her longtime Madrid home sparked nationwide protests, has died in hospital.

Abascal’s death was confirmed on Wednesday, Oct. 7, roughly two weeks after she was removed from the apartment where she had lived for more than seven decades. Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, confirmed the death but did not disclose the cause.

Her case had become a powerful symbol of Spain’s growing housing crisis, drawing thousands of protesters into the streets and generating widespread political debate.

A Home She Had Lived in for 71 Years

Abascal had lived in the Madrid apartment for approximately 71 years. Her family first rented the property in the 1950s, and she continued living there after her parents died.

The situation changed after the property changed ownership.

According to reports, an investment fund acquired the apartment in 2018. Abascal’s monthly rent, which had been around €500, was eventually increased to €2,650. It was later reduced to €1,650, but that was still more than her reported monthly pension of approximately €1,350.

After years of legal battles, Spain’s Supreme Court ruled against her in March 2026, clearing the way for the eviction.

The Eviction That Shocked Spain

On Sept. 23, authorities carried out the eviction.

Abascal, who used a wheelchair, was eventually taken from the apartment on a stretcher and transported to a hospital because of her fragile condition.

Images of the eviction spread rapidly, showing police surrounding the building as supporters gathered outside to protest her removal.

The scenes triggered an immediate public reaction. Thousands of people demonstrated in Madrid, while protests also appeared in cities across Spain.

The Madrid Tenants’ Union said that roughly 950,000 people participated in demonstrations across Spain following the eviction, according to its estimates.

An Agreement Came Too Late

In the days following the eviction, pressure mounted on the company that owned the apartment.

On Sept. 28, Abascal’s lawyer announced that an agreement had been reached that would have allowed the elderly woman to return home.

Under the agreement, her rent would reportedly have been limited to around 30% of her income for eight years, bringing the cost closer to what she had previously been paying.

Abascal was expected to return home after leaving the hospital.

But she died before that could happen.

“Although a historic agreement was reached that would have allowed her to return home, this solution came too late,” the Madrid Tenants’ Union said following her death.

Her Story Became Bigger Than One Eviction

Maricarmen’s story quickly became part of a much larger debate over housing affordability in Spain.

Rising rents and limited affordable housing have placed increasing pressure on renters, particularly older people and younger families.

Her eviction also intensified political pressure on Spain’s government, with housing becoming a major national issue.

Following news of her death, protesters gathered at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where activists have maintained a protest presence.

Messages of condolences came from political leaders, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who expressed his sympathy for Abascal’s family and supporters.

Spain’s major unions have also announced a nationwide general strike for Nov. 11 over housing concerns, adding another layer to the growing movement.

“Maricarmen Lives, the Fight Goes On”

For many protesters, Abascal’s story has come to represent the struggles faced by people who fear losing their homes as housing costs rise.

Her death has therefore not ended the protests.

Instead, demonstrators have vowed to continue demanding stronger protections for renters and greater access to affordable housing.

At gatherings following her death, protesters were heard chanting messages including, “Maricarmen lives, the fight goes on.”

Her story, which began with one woman’s fight to remain in the home she had known for most of her life, has now become part of a much broader national debate over housing, affordability and the protection of vulnerable tenants in Spain.

SOURCES

1. PEOPLE
   “87-Year-Old Spanish Woman Whose Eviction Sparked National Protests Has Died”
2. Associated Press
   Reporting on Maricarmen Abascal’s death and the nationwide housing protest
3. Reuters
   Coverage of the housing protests and political developments following her eviction.
4. The Guardian
   Background on Abascal’s eviction and her role in Spain’s housing movement.