Spanish tenant Maricarmen Abascal, 87, died after a protracted eviction that sparked nationwide protests over the country’s housing crisis.
Abascal was forcibly removed from her 70‑year‑old home on 23 September when the landlord raised her rent from €500 to €2,650. The increase, later reduced to €1,650, still exceeded her pension by €300.
The Madrid Tenants’ Union said she “has become a symbol” and called her death a “turning point in the history of this country.” The union added that the proposed “historic agreement” allowing her to return home proved “too late”.
Her eviction triggered mass demonstrations across Spanish cities, pressuring the coalition government to draft emergency housing legislation – a bill that was ultimately rejected by Congress last week.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election for 29 November after failing to secure the bill, arguing he needs a “broader progressive majority” to overcome elite resistance and push reforms.
The protests have intensified at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where thousands gathered after the announcement, turning the square into a temporary protest camp.
An additional strike was planned for 11 November by unions demanding comprehensive housing reforms. The unrest illustrates the urgency of addressing Spain’s long‑standing affordability crisis.
