An 87-year-old woman evicted from the home where she had lived for 70 years has died — her fate had sparked protests in Spain
Marikarmen Abascal, whose eviction from the rented apartment in Madrid where she had lived for nearly 70 years sparked protests across Spain, has died in hospital at the age of 87. This was announced by the Madrid Tenants' Union on October 7.
An 87-year-old woman evicted from the home where she lived for 70 years has died — her fate had sparked protests in Spain
Abascal had lived in an apartment in Retiro, one of the most expensive areas of the Spanish capital, since 1956. For many years, she paid a monthly rent of 500 euros.
In 2018, after the apartment was acquired by a new company, the rent was raised to a level higher than the woman's pension. The dispute between the parties lasted for several years.
On September 23, Abascal was evicted from the home based on a court decision. On that day, many protesters opposing the eviction gathered around the building. Police dispersed them, and medical workers took the elderly woman to the hospital.
This event triggered mass protests against housing issues in Spain.
On September 28, the woman's representatives reached a new agreement with the landlords. According to it, an eight-year lease agreement was drawn up for Abascal, with the monthly payment set at one-third of her pension — approximately 410 euros.
This agreement was supposed to allow her to return to her home. However, the woman died in the hospital.
The history of the dispute over the apartment goes back much further. It was originally rented by Abascal's father under rent control regulated during the Francisco Franco era. After her father's death, the woman began living alone, and the landlords proposed that she sign a new contract.
While the disagreement with the previous owners had continued, the company that bought the apartment in 2018 demanded rent at market rates.
The events surrounding Abascal took place against the backdrop of a broader housing crisis in Spain. Following protests and the parliament's rejection of the housing reform proposed by the government, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on October 5 the dissolution of parliament and early elections to be held on November 29.
The government's proposals included measures such as increasing the construction of affordable social housing, strengthening tenant protections, and raising taxes on vacant apartments or those rented to tourists. The right-wing opposition criticized the reform and the decision to implement it without parliamentary approval.