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Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction shook Spain, has died
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- María del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid home sparked nationwide protests and a political crisis in Spain, died while hospitalized.
- Her eviction, which involved police removing her on a stretcher due to fragile health, drew widespread outrage and protests demanding action on Spain's housing affordability crisis.
- Despite a last-minute agreement allowing her to return home, the solution came too late, highlighting the severe impact of eviction on vulnerable individuals.
- Abascal became a symbol for renters struggling with soaring housing costs in Spain, where average rents have nearly doubled in the last decade and many spend a disproportionate share of income on housing.
- Her death intensified political pressure, leading to an early election call by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and a planned general strike by unions, while leaders across the political spectrum offered condolences.
