Pensioner whose eviction sparked nationwide protests in Spain has died

Images of Maricarmen being carried on a stretcher from her home of 70 years prompted a wave of protests (Picture: Getty) A woman whose eviction from her longtime home in Madrid sparked protests and a snap election has died weeks after she was kicked out.

Anger over the shortage of housing and rental laws bubbled over after 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal – nicknamed Maricarmen – was evicted when her monthly bill leapt from €440 to €2,650 per month.

Maricarmen was carried out on a stretcher from her home of 70 years, prompting police to cordon nearby streets to counter the wave of protesters.

Images of Maricarmen, who normally used a wheelchair, sparked a movement as campaigners pushed for stronger rights for tenants.

Maricarmen was taken to hospital and later told by a court that she could return to her flat. She became unwell and died in hospital this week.

The pensioner’s lawyer, Beatriz Duro, said in a statement: ‘Maricarmen’s case, which captured media attention and travelled around the world, leaves us the image of the shameful violence of these types of evictions and the impact they can have on people’s health.’

Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social media: ‘All my love to Maricarmen’s family and loved ones. A hug as well to all of us who feel this loss as our own today. Rest in peace.’

Maricarmen lived in the flat with her parents and brother before she got a job working as a secretary.

Both of her parents died in the apartment, where she continued to live for years after.

In 1998, she retired. But she loved to run errands and ‘take care’ of items in her home – El País reported that the only personal belongings she took with her to the hospital were black and white family photographs.

Protester Eugenio Melchor, 22, said: ‘She was dying in her home and she almost did. They have killed her.

‘I mean, there’s no other word for it, and I hope those responsible for this pay and go to trial.’

It has become near-impossible for Spanish locals in need of accommodation to compete with tourists willing to pay premium prices for short-term holiday lets.

Anti-tourism demonstrations often take place across mainland Spain, Mallorca, and the Canary Islands, particularly in the summer.

Property prices in Spain are about 13% higher than they were one year ago, according to the INE’s 2026 national housing price index.

While officials have made attempts to ease the crisis, including introducing a ban on short-term rentals in Barcelona by 2029, locals have made it clear that they want more to be done.

This week, PM Sánchez announced that there will be an early election held in November, admitting that his government has ‘made mistakes and has not managed to do everything we set out to do’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Arrow MORE: Greece, Italy and Spain’s best hotels have been revealed — but how much do they cost?

Arrow MORE: Spanish protestors fed up of tourists threaten to ‘bring the country to a standstill’

Arrow MORE: 12 injured and dozens more trapped after Spanish tourist bar collapses

Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.

Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.