Rising rent costs in Spain have led to the eviction of elderly residents, sparking nationwide protests and political debate.

The senate elderly woman whose eviction sparked nationwide protests over Spain's housing crisis and a political row that triggered early elections has died, according to Madrid's tenants union. Maricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment of more than 70 years on 23 September after she was unable to afford rent increases. The company that owned the flat later offered to allow her to return at a lower rate - but she was unable to sign an agreement as she had been admitted to hospital. "We regret to announce that Maricarmen passed away today," the Madrid Tenants' Union said in a statement, adding her situation marked "a turning point in the history of this country". Union spokesperson Alicia del Río said: "Speculation costs lives, and today rentierism has finished killing our colleague Maricarmen" but "her memory lives on with us". Abascal became a symbol for Spain's housing crisis following her eviction. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6e3x21ev9wwo

"An 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her home triggered nationwide protests in Spain has died, according to the Madrid tenants' union. Maricarmen Abascal's eviction sparked protests over the country’s housing crisis and a political debate that culminated in early elections." https://www.rte.ie/news/europe/2026/1007/1594479-spain-madrid-elderly-woman/ #Spain #Maricarmen #housing #protests

"She Put Her Body on the Line": Maricarmen, 87, Dies; Her Eviction Sparked Spain Housing Protests http://www.democracynow.org/2026/10/8/maricarmen_abascal_dies #leftist #progressivenews #left #DemocracyNow #VSN

"She Put Her Body on the Line": Maricarmen, 87, Dies; Her Eviction Sparked Spain Housing Protests http://www.democracynow.org/2026/10/8/maricarmen_abascal_dies

""She Put Her Body on the Line": Maricarmen, 87, Dies; Her Eviction Sparked Spain Housing Protests" https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=hPIN93whpYk