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Spain · Survival · Moderate · impact 2 of 5
First reported 7 October 2026 · latest 9 October 2026 · 28 reports from 12 outlets
One development in Spain housing crisis protests
Maricarmen Abascal, 87, died after her eviction from a home she had lived in for more than 70 years in Spain. Her death has deepened concern over the impact on older renters.
'They killed her': Evicted pensioner who sparked Spain housing protests dies
Her death is set to reinvigorate the protest movement and further polarize Spain ahead of a national election next month, in which housing will be a central issue. Sympathizers with Maricarmen's cause left candles, flowers and letters overnight at an impromptu shrine in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol, where around 1,000 people have camped for two weeks to protest Spain's housing affordability crisis since Maricarmen's eviction on Sept. 23 captured the nation's attention.
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To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Issued on: 09/10/2026 - 15:51 Tens of thousands of mourners marched through Madrid on Thursday in tribute to a Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked national housing protests that culminated in the calling of early elections. The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal on Wednesday produced tears and anger in the Spanish capital's emblematic Puerta del Sol square, the epicentre of the movement where hundreds are camping in protest.
Issued on: 09/10/2026 - 15:51 Tens of thousands of mourners marched through Madrid on Thursday in tribute to a Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked national housing protests that culminated in the calling of early elections. The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal on Wednesday produced tears and anger in the Spanish capital's emblematic Puerta del Sol square, the epicentre of the movement where hundreds are camping in protest.
Her death reignited anger over housing costs and evictions, amid a political crisis that led to a snap election being called for 29 November. Thousands marched from Puerta del Sol to her former home, carrying her portrait and a funeral wreath. Many walked in silence; at Cibeles, they observed a minute's silence.
Candles, flowers and messages were left at a makeshift memorial outside her former home. Hundreds have been camping in Puerta del Sol, the centre of the housing protest movement. Madrid Tenants' Union spokesperson Alicia del Río praised Abascal's determination to defend her rights.
Madrid mourns evicted retiree, ‘icon’ of Spain housing protests . MADRID Tens of thousands of mourners marched through Madrid on Thursday in tribute to a Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked national housing protests that culminated in the calling of early elections. The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal on Wednesday produced tears and anger in the Spanish capital s emblematic Puerta del Sol square, the epicenter of the movement where hundreds are camping in protest.
The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal on Wednesday produced tears and anger in the Spanish capital s emblematic Puerta del Sol square, the epicenter of the movement where hundreds are camping in protest. From Sol, where an improvised shrine of candles, flowers and placards lay on Thursday morning, demonstrators headed to Abascal s former home in the upmarket Retiro district around three kilometers away.
Protests, debate follow death of Maricarmen, 87, Spain protest symbol. Thousands of protestors honor Maricarmen Abascal s life, while tributes within parliament spark debate. Save Share Thousands of Spaniards protested outside Spain s parliament after the death of Maria del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction ignited nationwide protests and sparked a snap general election.
Thousands of protestors honor Maricarmen Abascal s life, while tributes within parliament spark debate. Save Share Thousands of Spaniards protested outside Spain s parliament after the death of Maria del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction ignited nationwide protests and sparked a snap general election. Meanwhile, tributes to Abascal were debated within the legislature as lawmakers accused each other of exploiting the case ahead of the election.
Taking an 87-year-old woman out of her home after she had lived in the same house for 70 years, that is killing someone. Diana joined thousands of protesters outside Spain s parliament. Outside Abascal s building, mourners left flowers, candles, handwritten notes and children s drawings.
Jorge Moreno (left) says "vulture funds" are hiking up rents, while Pierina Nicuray points out that there is "a lack of homes" in Spain Pierina Nicuray, a 21-year-old university graduate, has spent a week camped out in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square. Like many of the hundreds of others who have pitched their tents here to protest at Spain's housing crisis, she has no doubts when it comes to diagnosing the cause. "It's the same problem as always," she says.
The eviction touched a nerve among Spaniards fed up with a housing crisis. Tens of thousands of people, many of them young, took to the streets for days across the country, protesting skyrocketing rents and evictions, and singing we are all Maricarmen. Hundreds have also camped in Puerta del Sol, Madrid s most famous square, and have no plans to clear out.
Tens of thousands of people, many of them young, took to the streets for days across the country, protesting skyrocketing rents and evictions, and singing we are all Maricarmen. Hundreds have also camped in Puerta del Sol, Madrid s most famous square, and have no plans to clear out. This is not an eviction, this is murder, hundreds of demonstrators chanted in the square on Wednesday evening, according to footage from Spain s public broadcaster.
Hundreds have also camped in Puerta del Sol, Madrid s most famous square, and have no plans to clear out. This is not an eviction, this is murder, hundreds of demonstrators chanted in the square on Wednesday evening, according to footage from Spain s public broadcaster. The eviction also brought about the end of the minority government of the left-wing prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.
23, after three failed attempts in previous months, the police removed Ms. Abascal from her apartment, after clearing out hundreds of activists who had barricaded the building to shield her. Her case quickly drew international attention and prompted the national government to respond.
Spain has a housing shortfall of about 755,000 homes, according to the Bank of Spain. Despite a sharp decline in evictions to about 25,000 last year, from around 68,000 in 2014 the issue remains politically delicate for the government, particularly after Mr. Sánchez promised before taking office to end them.
Spain has a housing shortfall of about 755,000 homes, according to the Bank of Spain. Despite a sharp decline in evictions to about 25,000 last year, from around 68,000 in 2014 the issue remains politically delicate for the government, particularly after Mr. Sánchez promised before taking office to end them.
Her death is set to reinvigorate the protest movement and further polarize Spain ahead of a national election next month, in which housing will be a central issue. Sympathizers with Maricarmen's cause left candles, flowers and letters overnight at an impromptu shrine in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol, where around 1,000 people have camped for two weeks to protest Spain's housing affordability crisis since Maricarmen's eviction on Sept. 23 captured the nation's attention.
Many protesters believe that Maricarmen's demise was caused by the eviction. Thousands protested when police carried Maricarmen, who used a wheelchair, on a stretcher from her home of seven decades last month. She died in a hospital where she was taken, and her lawyer did not disclose a cause of death.
'They killed her': Evicted pensioner who sparked Spain housing protests dies
Le Monde says the high school student movement is united and digging its heels in. Hundreds of thousands of students marched in cities across France on Tuesday. They're going to renew those efforts this Thursday, while parents and union members have also joined the demonstrations.
Maria del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked massive housing protests across Spain, has died in a Madrid hospital after a protracted legal battle with a real estate firm over the home she had lived in for seven decades. Her death was announced by the Madrid Tenants Union, prompting hundreds of protesters in Madrid s central Puerta del Sol square to hold a minute of silence for Abascal, widely known as Maricarmen .Abascal became a symbol of growing anger over Spain s housing crisis, where the average rent has almost doubled over the past decade, with protests often blaming investment vulture funds such as Blackstone and BlackRock for the trend. The protests erupted in force on September 23, when riot police dispersed hundreds of activists attempting to prevent Abascal s removal from her Madrid apartment, with images of an elderly woman being taken away on a stretcher fueling public outrage.
Her death was announced by the Madrid Tenants Union, prompting hundreds of protesters in Madrid s central Puerta del Sol square to hold a minute of silence for Abascal, widely known as Maricarmen .Abascal became a symbol of growing anger over Spain s housing crisis, where the average rent has almost doubled over the past decade, with protests often blaming investment vulture funds such as Blackstone and BlackRock for the trend. The protests erupted in force on September 23, when riot police dispersed hundreds of activists attempting to prevent Abascal s removal from her Madrid apartment, with images of an elderly woman being taken away on a stretcher fueling public outrage. An 87-year-old pensioner whose eviction sparked protests in Madrid is now being allowed to return home.
Last week, police evicted Maricarmen Abascal on a stretcher from her home of more than 70 years. Three days later, tens of thousands marched through the Spanish capital, establishing a camp in Puerta del Sol square and sparking a major political crisis. Abascal s family first rented the apartment in 1956, with the tenancy passing from her father to her mother and eventually to her.
To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Issued on: 08/10/2026 - 11:56 Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old Spanish woman whose dramatic eviction last month sparked mass housing protests that led to an early election, has died, the Madrid tenants' union said on Wednesday, as thousands demonstrated over her death. France 24's correspondent in Madrid Sarah Morris has the details.
‘Adios Maricarmen’: Hundreds protest in Madrid after pensioner’s death. Europe Today Euronews' flagship morning TV show with the news and insights that drive Europe, live from Brussels every morning at 08.00.
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