Elderly Spanish Tenant's Death Fuels Nationwide Housing Protests
On 23 September, 87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal was forcibly removed from her Madrid flat, where she had lived for more than seven decades. The eviction came after landlords raised the rent from €500 to €2,650 per month, a rise that the tenant could not afford.
Abascal was taken to hospital on a stretcher, where she passed away shortly after. The Madrid Tenants' Union declared that her death marked a turning point in the country’s history, urging the public to continue fighting against rent profiteering.
The incident triggered a surge of protests across Spain, with thousands gathering in Puerta del Sol, Madrid, chanting slogans such as “We will not tolerate another eviction” and “Maricarmen is still alive.” Protesters positioned candles and written tributes, labeling her death a “murder” by speculators.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reacted by calling a snap election for 29 November, following the rejection of his emergency housing decrees in Congress. The challenges of balancing living costs, housing supply, and political opposition have put Sánchez’s government under heightened scrutiny.
The national debate has deepened, with opposition parties arguing that state intervention might stifle rental markets, while supporters demand robust reforms to prevent further forced evictions. The public’s outcry over Abascal’s ordeal illustrates a broader demand for affordable housing and social justice in Spain.
Figure 1: Abascal seated in her apartment before eviction.
Arriaga 2026.
