Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked major protests, died in hospital, her lawyer says

María del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her longtime home in Madrid sparked protests across Spain and sparked a political crisis in the country that culminated in the government’s call for snap elections, died Wednesday while in hospital.

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez led the way on social media, offering his condolences after housing activists and Abascal’s lawyer announced his death. Known as “Maricarmen”, it had become a symbol for tenants struggling with the housing affordability crisis in Spain.

“All my love to Maricarmen’s family and loved ones,” Sánchez wrote in a message on X. “A hug also to all of us who feel this loss like ours today. Rest in peace.”

Emotions turned to anger in the streets among demonstrators gathered near the Spanish Parliament who chanted “Maricarmen lives, the fight continues!” »

“A lot of sadness. And above all, the idea that she is the cause, the head of this whole revolution that happened, and that she can’t see it,” said Iciar López, a 32-year-old psychologist and protester in Madrid, the capital.

“It makes me very sad that she can’t see if anything comes of it. That’s what annoys me the most, honestly.”

Spaniards, increasingly frustrated with the cost of housing, periodically demonstrate in major cities to demand action from lawmakers.

But a new wave of outrage has swept the Iberian nation since September 23, when Maricarmen, who used a wheelchair, was carried on a stretcher from her home of seven decades after police cordoned off the street and evicted protesters.

She was taken to hospital due to her fragile health. Television images of the eviction prompted thousands of people to demonstrate in Madrid and other cities across the country.

Maricarmen’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, did not reveal the cause of death when she confirmed it to Cadena Ser radio. Duro said she and the activists were all devastated.

“The case of Maricarmen, which received media attention and went around the world, leaves us with the image of the shameful violence of this type of evictions and the impact they can have on people’s health,” Duro said.

She was expected to return home after leaving the hospital. The real estate company that had evicted her in order to rent the property at a much higher price finally relented under immense public pressure and agreed to let her return to the apartment.

“Even though a historic agreement was reached that would have allowed her to return home, this solution came too late,” the Madrid Tenants Union said in a statement on Wednesday. “This was a completely avoidable situation after a heartbreaking ordeal.”

The average rent in Spain has almost doubled over the last 10 years. The government said 26% of Spaniards who rent a home spend an average of 40% of their income on rent and utilities, compared to the European Union average of 18%.

Protesters camped in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol square observed a minute of silence after learning of his death.

Maricarmen spent almost her entire life in her apartment, where she first lived with her parents and brother. She then worked as secretary of the board of directors of a pharmaceutical company, according to Spanish media.

After retiring in 1998, she spent her days walking around the neighborhood, running errands and taking care of the treasured items in her home.

Spanish media reported that black and white family photographs were among the only things she took with her to the hospital.

“Maricarmen only wanted to die at home. She didn’t ask for anything else,” Eugenio Melchor, 22, said at the protest in Madrid.

“She was dying at home and she almost died. They killed her. I mean, there’s no other word for it, and I hope whoever is responsible for this pays and goes to justice.”

Additional sources •AP