Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her long-term apartment sparked widespread protests across Spain, has died, the Madrid Tenants' Union announced today. Ms Abascal was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her home of over 70 years on 23 September after she could no longer afford increased rent.
Her eviction became a symbol of Spain's housing crisis and contributed to a political dispute that resulted in early elections being called. The company owning the flat later offered her a lower rent, but she was unable to sign an agreement due to being admitted to hospital.
The Madrid Tenants' Union stated that Ms Abascal's situation represented "a turning point in the history of this country." Her father first rented the property in 1956, and she continued as a tenant with a rent cap until a legal detail allowed the landlord, Urbagestión, to raise her rent from €500 to €2,650. This was later reduced to €1,650, which was still €300 more than her monthly pension.
The public outcry following her eviction led to protests and pressure on the coalition government to approve emergency housing legislation, which was rejected in Congress last week. This rejection prompted further demonstrations, with tens of thousands protesting across the country over the weekend. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called an early election for 29 November following the failure of the housing legislation.