Death of Maricarmen Abascal, evicted Spanish pensioner
María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman known as Maricarmen, was evicted from her Madrid home, prompting large-scale protests across Spain over housing conditions and contributing to a political crisis. She died on Wednesday while hospitalized, according to reports citing Madrid's tenants' union.
Last known state
Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction sparked nationwide housing protests in Spain, died on 7 October while hospitalized, according to Madrid's tenants' union. Unions have called for a nationwide general strike on 11 November.
3 sources · 3 reports · Last updated 8 Oct 2026
Latest development
Maricarmen Abascal's death is now reported to have occurred on 7 October while she was hospitalized.
Developments
- Key development
Madrid's tenants' union announced on 7 October that Maricarmen Abascal had died while hospitalized.
- Key development
Unions called for a nationwide general strike on 11 November following Abascal's death.
- Earlier development
Abascal's eviction prompted large-scale housing protests across Spain, including activists camping in one of Madrid's main squares.
- Earlier development
On 29 September, her lawyer said she could return to the apartment she had lived in for decades.
Earlier coverage
- Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction shook Spain, has died María del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid home sparked nationwide protests across Spain and unleashed a political crisis, died on Wednesday while hospitalized.
- Evicted pensioner who sparked Spain housing protests dies: tenant union Maricarmen 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.
- Woman, 87, whose eviction sparked nationwide protests over housing in Spain has died An 87-year-old woman, whose eviction from her home sparked major protests in Spain and was partly responsible for a snap election, has died.
- Evicted Spanish pensioner can move back home, lawyer says The eviction of Maricarmen Abascal, 87, prompted large-scale protests across Spain.