Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked protests dies

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old Spanish pensioner whose eviction from her Madrid apartment sparked nationwide protests over the country's housing crisis, has died, according to Madrid's tenants' union on October 7, 2026. Her forced removal from the home she had lived in for over seven decades led to a surge of demonstrations across Spain, including activists camping out at one of Madrid's main squares. The eviction occurred after an investment firm purchased her apartment and demanded a rent increase by 230%, which Abascal could not afford. Despite initial offers to allow her to return home under more favorable terms, she was hospitalized and passed away shortly thereafter.

The housing crisis in Spain intensified following the rejection of proposed legislation aimed at curbing evictions and limiting rent pressures by parliament earlier in September. This legislative defeat further fueled public outrage and led Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to announce early elections for November 29, shifting political focus towards addressing the growing discontent about rising rents and housing shortages. Protesters in Madrid have expressed their grief through demonstrations and a general strike over housing issues scheduled for November 11.