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María del Carmen Abascal, symbol of Spain’s housing protests, dies aged 87
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old evicted from her Madrid home after seven decades, has died, sparking nationwide protests against Spain's housing crisis.
- Her eviction by an investment firm seeking a 230% rent increase became a symbol of the housing market struggles, leading to mass demonstrations and encampments across Spain.
- The eviction and subsequent protests pressured Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to call a snap general election after emergency housing decrees were blocked by rightwing parties.
- Abascal's death occurred hours before she was due to sign a new lease with the investment firm, with activists and politicians highlighting her case as a turning point in Spain's housing debate.
- In response, Sánchez's government approved new housing measures aimed at protecting vulnerable tenants, regulating rentals, and curbing speculation, which will be voted on by a special parliamentary council during the election period.
