Brief

Elderly tenant’s death sparks Madrid protests and snap election

Maricarmen Abascal’s death after an eviction by an investment fund has triggered nationwide demonstrations and a snap vote.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 10 Oct 2026 21:30:14 GMT

87‑year‑old Maricarmen Abascal died on Wednesday after being forcibly removed from the Madrid flat she had lived in for more than 70 years, Independent reported. The eviction, carried out after the property was bought by investment fund Urbagestion, sparked tens of thousands of protesters across Spain.

What happened

Abascal received an eviction notice on 23 September after Urbagestion sought to raise her rent from €500 to €2,650 per month, later reduced to €1,650 – far above her €1,350 pension. Three prior eviction attempts had been blocked by courts. She refused to leave, was carried on a stretcher to a hospital for severe anxiety and exhaustion, and died days later. Protesters gathered outside her building on Thursday, leaving flowers, candles and children’s drawings.

What the reports add

The Independent noted that the case has mobilised “tens of thousands of people across the country,” prompting a snap general election for 29 November after parliament rejected the government’s housing proposals. Protesters in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol chanted that Abascal had been “murdered” by greedy landlords. The article also quoted Alex Marinero, a 21‑year‑old protester, who called her “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

What was said

Abascal told reporters on the eve of the eviction, “I’ve lived here for 71 years and I don’t want to leave.” The Madrid Tenants Union described her death as a “turning point in the history of this country” in a statement. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, while not quoted directly in the piece, is reported to have called the snap election in response to the protests.

How it came about

Earlier Felo News coverage documented the growth of a protest camp in Puerta del Sol after Abascal’s eviction (see Madrid protest camp grows after 87‑year‑old eviction) and the broader housing crisis, including a rejected housing decree on 2 October and violent protests in Barcelona on 6 October. The death of Abascal has intensified calls for tenant protections and contributed to the political pressure that led to the election announcement.

Key facts

Maricarmen Abascal, 87, died after a forced eviction from her Madrid flat. (independent.co.uk)
Urbagestion raised her rent from €500 to €2,650, later reduced to €1,650. (independent.co.uk)
Thousands protested across Spain, chanting that she was "murdered" by landlords. (independent.co.uk)
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap general election for 29 November. (independent.co.uk)