Briefing
Maricarmen Abascal, aged 87, died at 7 October 2026 in the Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid. According to supporters, relatives and the media, she had been away from her home since 23 September 2026 when a court enforcement officer carried out the eviction The case had already attracted widespread public attention during and immediately after the eviction, and sparked sustained protests in Madrid and many other Spanish cities.
The eviction of the long-term tenant — who had lived in the same home for decades — prompted spontaneous blockades and a protest camp organised by tenants’ associations at the Puerta del Sol. Trade unions, tenants’ rights groups and parts of the political opposition have since called for more comprehensive safeguards, including a moratorium on evictions, greater protection for long-term tenants on low incomes and stricter requirements for large property owners. Authorities and courts announced reviews of eviction practices and hardship provisions.
Relatives and supporters claim there was a link between the eviction, the subsequent deterioration in the woman’s health and her death. This account comes from statements by family members, her lawyer and civil society groups. At the time of reporting, no official forensic finding on the cause of death had been made public; accordingly, a direct, legally established causal link between the eviction and her death remains formally unresolved.
The dates are confirmed: the eviction took place on 23 September 2026; she died on 7 October 2026 at Hospital Gregorio Marañón. The case has once again brought housing shortages and the handling of evictions in Spain to the centre of political and public debate. Whether, and what, legislative changes will follow is currently being discussed in parliament and regional administrations.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).