Images of Maricarmen being carried on a stretcher from her home of 70 years prompted a wave of protests (Picture: Getty)
A woman whose eviction from her longtime home in Madrid sparked protests and a snap election has died weeks after her eviction.
Anger over the shortage of housing and rental laws bubbled over after 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal,nicknamed Maricarmen,faced eviction after her monthly bill leapt from €440€ to €2,650 per month since 2018.
Images of Maricarmen being carried on a stretcher from her home of 70 years prompted police to cordon nearby streets to counter the wave of protesters.
The photos of Maricarmen,who normally used a wheelchair,sparked a movement as campaigners pushed for stronger rights for tenants.
Maricarmen was taken to the hospital and later told by a court that she could return to her flat. She became unwell and died in hospital this week.
The pensioner’s lawyer,Beatriz Duro,said in a statement: ‘Maricarmen’s case,which captured media attention and travelled around the world,leaves us the image of the shameful violence of these types of evictions and the impact they can have on people’s health.’
The pensioner had lived in her family home for more than 70 years (Picture: Getty)Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social media: ‘All my love to Maricarmen’s family and loved ones. A hug as well to all of us who feel this loss as our own today. Rest in peace.’Maricarmen lived in the Madrid flat with her parents and brother before later working as a secretary.Both of her parents died in the apartment,where she continued to live years after.In 1998,she retired and loved to run errands and ‘take care’ of items in her home – El País reported that the only personal belongings she took with her to the hospital were black and white family photographs.Protester Eugenio Melchor,22,said: ‘She was dying in her home and she almost did. They have killed her. I mean,there’s no other word for it,and I hope those responsible for this pay and go to trial.’Protesters gathered in the street last night to remember Maricarmen (Picture: Shutterstock)It’s become near-impossible for locals in need of accommodation to compete with tourists willing to pay premium prices for short-term holiday lets.Particularly active in the summer,anti-tourism demonstrations often take place across mainland Spain, Mallorca,and the Canary Islands.Residents’ discontent is understandable. Property prices in Spain right now are about 13% higher than one year ago,according to the INE’s 2026 national housing price index.While officials have made attempts to ease the crisis,including introducing a ban on short-term rentals in Barcelona by 2029,locals have made it clear that they want more to be done.This week,PM Sánchez announced that there will be an early election held in November,admitting that his government has ‘made mistakes and has not managed to do everything we set out to do’.Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.
