Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked protests has died

Summarised from 6 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 7 Oct, 21:08 · Archive

Maricarmen Abascal, 87, has died following her forcible eviction from her Madrid home of more than 70 years in September.

Maricarmen Abascal, 87, has died, according to a statement from Madrid's tenants' union issued on Wednesday. She had been hospitalised following her eviction from the flat where she had lived for more than 70 years.

Abascal was forcibly removed from her apartment on a stretcher in September after the real estate firm that owned the property drastically increased the rent, which she was reportedly unable to afford. Shocking scenes of her removal sparked outrage across Spain.

Her eviction triggered nationwide protests over Spain's housing crisis. Hundreds of people camped in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square in demonstrations that became symbolic of broader anger at housing conditions in the country. The Madrid Tenants' Union said in a statement: 'We are sorry to announce that Maricarmen passed away today', adding that her situation marked 'a turning point in the history of this country'.

The protests and political fallout escalated when parliament rejected proposed housing measures last week aimed at curbing evictions and limiting rent pressures. These rejections prompted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call a snap election for November 29, in which housing is expected to feature prominently.

Sanchez expressed his condolences to Abascal's family on Wednesday. Angel Victor Torres, Spain's territorial policy minister, said Abascal had become a symbol of the struggles facing many families, particularly elderly and young people trying to obtain or retain homes.

According to the Independent World, Abascal had been expected to return home following her discharge from hospital, having agreed terms with the firm that owned the property. Trade unions announced a nationwide general strike over housing issues for 11 November in response to the ongoing crisis.

How it is being reported

• Evicted pensioner who sparked Spain housing protests dies: tenant unionMaricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked housing protests in Spain, has died, Madrid's tenants' union said on Wednesday. Abascal's eviction sparked a series of protests across Spain in the past couple of weeks, including activists camping on one of Madrid's main squares, and calls for tackling a mounting housing crisis. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris reports from Madrid.France 24 · 7 Oct, 21:14
• Maricarmen Abascal, whose eviction sparked major protests in Spain, dies aged 87Maricarmen, as she was known, had been hospitalized since she was carried out on a stretcher from the apartment where she had lived for seven decadesIndependent World · 7 Oct, 20:59
• Evicted pensioner Maricarmen Abascal, heart of Spain's housing protests, diesMaricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked housing protests in Spain, has died, Madrid's tenants' union said on Wednesday. Massive protests following Abascal's eviction spiralled into a political crisis, eventually leading Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call a snap election.France 24 · 7 Oct, 20:19
• Disabled elderly woman, 87, whose eviction has sparked weeks of riots in Spain has diedMaricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed from the home she had lived in for more than 70 years after reportedly being unable to afford steep rent rises.Daily Mail · 7 Oct, 20:11
• Spanish pensioner whose eviction sparked nationwide protests dies, union saysMaricarmen Abascal, 87, was forcibly removed on a stretcher from her apartment of more than 70 years in September.BBC News · 7 Oct, 19:54
• Evicted Spanish pensioner who sparked housing protests has died, Madrid tenant union saysMaricarmen Abascal, the octogenarian woman whose eviction set off housing protests across Spain, has died, a tenant's union in Madrid has said.DW News · 7 Oct, 19:49
• Woman, 87, whose eviction triggered snap election in Spain following housing protests has diedAn octogenarian whose eviction from her home sparked protests leading to a snap election in Spain has died, according to a tenants' union.Sky News · 7 Oct, 19:40

In this story: Maricarmen Abascal · Pedro Sanchez · Madrid Tenants' Union · Madrid · Spain

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