The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal, who was forcibly evicted from her home in Madrid after more than seven decades of residence, has sparked widespread outrage across Spain and intensified the national debate over the country’s growing housing crisis. Abascal passed away on Wednesday, days after being removed from her apartment by authorities following a protracted legal dispute with an investment firm that had purchased the property and sought to raise her rent dramatically.
Abascal had lived in the building since childhood, but after the investment fund Urbagestion acquired it, her rent was increased by over 230 percent—from €500 to an initial demand of €2,650 per month, which was later reduced to €1,650. This amount exceeded her monthly pension of €1,350, leaving her unable to afford the new terms. Despite three prior court rulings blocking eviction attempts, she was ultimately removed on September 23. In the days before her death, she was hospitalized for severe anxiety and exhaustion related to the ordeal.
Her passing galvanized tens of thousands of protesters throughout Spain, many of them young people, who took to the streets to condemn real estate speculation and call for government intervention to curb rising rents. Demonstrators carried signs demanding “not one more Maricarmen” and left flowers, candles, and personal tributes outside her former home in Madrid.
The incident intensified political tensions in the country, prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to announce a snap general election to be held on November 29. Sanchez’s socialist government faced opposition after parliament rejected legislation aimed at regulating rental prices, with parties on the left criticizing the right for blocking the bills, while right-wing factions accused the left of failing to resolve the issue during eight years in power.
The conservative People’s Party (PP), which holds majorities in Madrid’s regional and local assemblies, declined to observe a minute of silence in Abascal’s honor. Madrid’s PP leader, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, attributed responsibility to the national government, stating that the eviction occurred under Sanchez’s administration. In contrast, opposition figures on the left, including Mas Madrid leader Manuela Bergerot, condemned the eviction and subsequent death as the result of “miserable people” prioritizing profit over people’s lives. Bergerot also criticized Ayuso for a disparaging comment made shortly after the eviction, when the Madrid leader reportedly joked about the age at which she could stop paying landlords.
Abascal’s case has been described by the Madrid Tenants Union as a pivotal moment in Spain’s housing struggle, symbolizing the broader adverse effects of rapidly inflating rents and real estate speculation on vulnerable residents. In her final days, Abascal reportedly sent messages of encouragement to activists across Spain, whose resolve has been strengthened in the wake of her death.
The case continues to fuel fierce debate among lawmakers and citizens alike, underscoring the urgent need for effective housing reforms amid growing social and political unrest nationwide.