Protests, debate follow death of Maricarmen, 87, Spain protest symbol

What the report says

Thousands of people in Madrid gathered after the death of Maria del Carmen Abascal, known as Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction became a rallying point for Spain’s housing protests. According to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters, demonstrators honoured her outside Spain’s parliament and later at the apartment she had been forced to leave, leaving flowers, candles and handwritten tributes. She died on Wednesday after being hospitalised for severe anxiety and exhaustion following her eviction on September 23, and no cause of death has been announced.

The protests have intensified debate over Spain’s housing crisis, rising rents and shortages of affordable homes. The eviction helped fuel public anger that contributed to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez calling a snap general election for November 29 after parliament failed to approve emergency housing measures. Protesters accused officials of neglect, while lawmakers in regional debate used her death to attack political rivals over who was exploiting the case.

In the Madrid regional legislature, tributes to Abascal became a point of confrontation between the governing conservatives and left-wing parties. The conservative People’s Party rejected a minute of silence, while other deputies held their own tribute. The dispute reflects how deeply the housing issue has entered Spain’s election campaign. Al Jazeera also noted a state poll showing broad public support for stronger housing intervention, including more public housing and tighter limits on evictions and tourist rentals.