87-year-old Maricarmen, whose eviction sparked nationwide debate in Spain, has passed away in the hospital.
María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose recent eviction from her long-time Madrid residence became a catalyst for widespread protests throughout Spain, passed away on Wednesday while hospitalized. Her eviction, which drew national attention to Spain’s mounting housing affordability crisis, not only ignited grassroots activism but also triggered a significant political crisis in the country.
The announcement of her death drew condolences from various political leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who took to social media to express his sorrow. Abascal, affectionately known as “Maricarmen,” had grown into a symbolic figure representing the struggles many renters face amid rising housing costs.
The sentiment surrounding her death was palpable among protesters near Spain’s Parliament, where chants of “Maricarmen lives, the fight goes on!” echoed amidst the demonstrations. Many participants shared their grief and frustration, believing that her eviction was emblematic of broader issues concerning tenant rights and housing justice.
The saga began to unfold on September 23, when police forcibly removed Abascal from her home of 70 years, leading to an outpouring of public outrage. Images of this eviction circulated widely, spurring mass protests across major Spanish cities as citizens called for governmental action to alleviate the housing crisis. Reports indicate that average rent levels in Spain have nearly doubled over the past decade, with 26% of renters spending upwards of 40% of their income on housing and utilities—significantly higher than the EU average of 18%.
Despite public pressure that eventually prompted the real estate company responsible for her eviction to agree to let her return home, this resolution arrived too late for Maricarmen. Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, lamented the tragic implications of the eviction process, underscoring the profound impact that such incidents can have on individuals’ health and well-being.
Abascal’s story is a poignant reminder of the human faces behind the statistics of Spain’s housing crisis. Having lived in her apartment her entire life, Abascal’s experiences resonate with many others grappling with similar issues. As the housing crisis intensifies, her plight has galvanized a new wave of activism, prompting Spain’s unions to announce plans for a general strike. The political ramifications are significant: Sánchez recently called for early elections in hopes that the housing crisis could reinvigorate his party’s position amid political uncertainty.
Minister of Housing Isabel Rodríguez and prominent opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also conveyed condolences, emphasizing the need for respect in the wake of Abascal’s death. The outcome of her story remains to be seen, but it has undeniably left a lasting impact on the national discourse surrounding housing justice in Spain.
