Spanish pensioner Maricarmen Abascal, whose eviction sparked protests, has died

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid home ignited housing protests across Spain, has died, according to a statement from the local tenants' union. The Madrid Tenants' Union announced her passing, stating that her situation marked 'a turning point in the history of this country.' Abascal was evicted from her lifelong residence on a stretcher after the property management significantly increased the rent. Following her eviction, she was hospitalized due to exhaustion, although an agreement with the property owners was eventually reached. The union described the resolution as 'too late' and characterized the experience as 'totally avoidable' and 'torturous' for Abascal. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his condolences to Abascal's family, stating on X, 'I send hugs to all of those who mourn this loss as if it was their own.' Spanish Minister for Territorial Policy Angel Victor Torres remarked that Abascal represented the struggles faced by many amid the ongoing housing crisis in Spain. In response to housing issues, Spain's trade unions have called for a nationwide general strike on November 11, urging citizens to 'mobilize for better salaries, for decent housing, and for price controls in the face of inflation that undermines our purchasing power.' The unions criticized what they termed 'insatiable real estate greed' that makes access to decent housing nearly impossible. The protests stemming from Abascal's eviction, along with lawmakers' rejection of housing reforms aimed at assisting tenants, prompted Sanchez to announce early elections scheduled for November 29.