Spain mourns 87‑year‑old pensioner whose eviction sparked nationwide protests

Thu Oct 08 2026 15:16:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The death of Maricarmen Abascal, evicted after 70 years, deepened a housing crisis that led to mass protests and an early election in Spain.

Elderly pensioner Maricarmen Abascal died after a year‑long struggle that ignited widespread protests across Spain’s cities, demanding affordable housing and police reform. Her eviction after her landlord doubled the rent from €500 to €2,650 led to a national debate on housing policy, prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to call early elections. Demonstrators camped around Puerta del Sol for weeks, chanting slogans, and their outcry forced the government to confront the sharp divide between the public and political leaders. The tragedy highlighted the human cost of policy failures, while magnifying the urgency of legislative change in Spanish housing law.

Spain mourns 87‑year‑old pensioner whose eviction sparked nationwide protests

An elderly woman whose forced removal from a Madrid flat after 70 years of residence now touches a national crisis over rent hikes and housing policy. Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was removed on 23 September on a stretcher and later died in hospital, according to Madrid’s tenants union.

The landlord, Urgastión, had increased the rent from €500 to €2,650, effectively wiping out her pension and forcing eviction. Though a court had previously blocked three eviction attempts, the final offer of €1,650 was still far above her monthly allowance.

Her case sparked protests nationwide, with tens of thousands occupying public squares and demanding the right to affordable housing. The demonstrations drew the attention of political leaders, resulting in a delayed housing decree and a call for an early election by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

After her death the square around Puerta del Sol became a site of solidarity: hundreds lit candles, laid flowers, and read messages that called the eviction a “killing” and pledged that the struggle would continue. The tenants’ union described the moment as a turning point, but warned that the cost was too high.

Sánchez addressed the nation, offering condolences and urging a broader progressive majority to overcome elite resistance to reforms. Members of the opposition called for respect for the deceased and urged the issue not be politicised further.

The incident exposed how rent rises have doubled in Madrid over the past decade, culminating in deep fractures between public sentiment and political leadership. While the conservative People’s Party appears poised for a larger share in the forthcoming election, their victory may still require support from the far right Vox party.