María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid home became a focal point for housing protests in Spain, died in a hospital on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Known as "Maricarmen," she had been hospitalized since her removal from her apartment on September 23. Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, confirmed the death but did not disclose the cause.
The eviction took place after Abascal had lived in the same apartment for seven decades. Police cordoned off the street and removed protesters before carrying Abascal, who used a wheelchair, out on a stretcher. The real estate company responsible for the eviction had sought to rent the property at a higher price, though it later agreed to let her return following public pressure. The Madrid Tenants’ Union stated on Wednesday that the agreement to allow her return "came too late."
Following the announcement of her death, protesters gathered near Spain’s Parliament and in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square, where they held a minute of silence. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez offered condolences on social media, as did opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
The average rent in Spain has nearly doubled over the last 10 years, according to the real estate site Idealista. Government figures indicate that 26% of Spanish renters now spend an average of 40% of their income on rent and utilities, compared to the European Union average of 18%.
Following the government's failure to pass emergency housing measures last week, Prime Minister Sánchez called for early national elections on Monday. Additionally, Spanish labor unions have cited this case as a catalyst for a general strike scheduled for next month.
The immediate next steps include the national general strike in November and the early general election scheduled for November 29, 2026. Protesters in Madrid have indicated they intend to continue demonstrations leading up to the vote.