Maricarmen Abascal, symbol of Spain's housing crisis, dies at 87

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her home of nearly 70 years ignited widespread protests across Spain, passed away on October 7, 2026. Abascal had been hospitalized in serious condition following her forced removal from her apartment in central Madrid on September 23, 2026. Her case became a catalyst for national demonstrations against the country's deepening housing crisis.

The legal dispute originated from an old rental agreement signed by her father in 1956. After an investment firm purchased the building, they raised the rent to a level Abascal could not afford with her pension, leading to the court-ordered eviction. Despite a recent agreement that would have allowed her to return to the apartment upon her discharge from the hospital, she died before the arrangement could be fulfilled. The incident triggered mass protests in Madrid, drawing attention to the vulnerability of long-term tenants facing displacement due to gentrification, rising rents, and a lack of affordable housing in major Spanish cities. The tragedy has significantly intensified public and political pressure for legislative action to address the housing crisis.