María del Carmen Abascal, an 87-year-old Madrid resident whose eviction from her apartment catalysed nationwide protests against Spain's housing crisis, has died. She passed away two weeks after being removed from the apartment where she had lived for over seven decades, according to the Guardian.
Abascal, known across Spain as Maricarmen, became a symbol of the country's acute housing shortage and affordability crisis when authorities carried out her eviction. The case triggered a wave of demonstrations among housing activists and broader public backlash, drawing attention to Spain's struggle to provide stable accommodation for its residents.
The timing of her death underscores the human toll of Spain's housing emergency, which has fuelled political pressure on the government. Housing activists have cited the crisis as a key issue in recent electoral contests, including an early election that took place in Spain's political calendar.