The recent death of an elderly woman in Spain has sparked widespread outrage and protests, highlighting the country’s ongoing housing crisis. María del Carmen Abascal, who was 87 years old and had lived in her Madrid apartment for 70 years, passed away after being hospitalized following her eviction.
Her eviction on September 23 became a focal point for public anger when images circulated showing Abascal, who used a wheelchair, being carried from her home on a stretcher. This incident prompted large demonstrations across Spain, turning Abascal into a symbol of the struggle against rising housing costs.
The timing of her death coincides with mounting political pressure on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who recently called for early elections on November 29. This decision came after the government failed to pass urgent housing measures aimed at addressing the growing concerns of citizens regarding escalating rents and housing affordability.
Following the outcry over Abascal’s eviction, the real estate company responsible for her situation had agreed to allow her to return to her apartment, but she sadly died before that could happen. The details surrounding her cause of death have not been publicly disclosed.
On the day of her death, demonstrators gathered in front of Spain’s Parliament and in key locations in Madrid, observed moments of silence, and chanted, “Maricarmen lives, the fight goes on!” Their cries reflect a broader demand for change, as housing activists call for reforms in Spain’s rental policies in light of the upcoming elections.
Sánchez expressed his condolences on social media, extending his thoughts to Abascal’s family and loved ones. Conservative opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also offered his sympathies but urged all political figures to refrain from exploiting this tragedy for political gain.
As the nation prepares for elections, Abascal’s eviction and subsequent death have ignited a renewed push for urgent reforms in the housing sector, underscoring the need for change in a system that affects many struggling citizens in Spain.
