Spain Mourns Activist Maricarmen Abascal as Protests Intensify Over Housing Crisis

Thousands gather to honor Maricarmen Abascal’s legacy as parliamentary tributes ignite debate.

Published On 9 Oct 20269 Oct 2026

Thousands of Spaniards protested outside Spain’s parliament after the death of María del Carmen Abascal, the 87‑year‑old whose eviction triggered nationwide demonstrations and prompted a snap general election.

Meanwhile, tributes to Abascal sparked debate inside the legislature, with legislators accusing one another of exploiting the tragedy for electoral gain.

Maricarmen Abascal passed away on Wednesday after being hospitalized for severe anxiety and exhaustion following her eviction from her Madrid home on a stretcher on September 23.

While hospitalized, she agreed to return to her residence but died before the move could be completed; no official cause of death has been released.

‘Killing someone’

“They killed her through heartbreak,” said demonstrator Diana to Al Jazeera. “Removing an 87‑year‑old woman who had lived in the same house for 70 years amounts to killing her.”

Diana joined the thousands of protesters gathered outside Spain’s parliament.

Outside Abascal’s residence, mourners placed flowers, candles, handwritten notes and children’s drawings.

Protesters chanted, “These are not deaths; they are murders,” as they marched from the Puerta del Sol protest camp to Abascal’s former home on Thursday.

Tributes in Spain’s legislature

The wave of protests over housing shortages and rising rents after her eviction led Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to call a snap general election for November 29, after parliament failed to adopt emergency housing measures.

Tributes to Abascal in the Madrid regional legislature provoked arguments, with lawmakers accusing each other of exploiting the case ahead of the vote.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative People’s Party (PP), accused Sánchez and the Socialists of trying to capitalize on the housing crisis for political advantage before the election.

“We will not let this attempt to manipulate Spanish emotions succeed; all of this has unfolded during their eight years in power. It simply won’t work,” Feijóo said.

The PP, which holds absolute majorities in the Madrid regional and local assemblies, declined to observe a minute of silence in her honor. Instead, hard‑left deputies held a vigil outside City Hall and gave Abascal a 60‑second standing ovation during a heated debate in the regional assembly, while PP members remained seated with arms crossed.

Left‑leaning parties criticized conservatives for blocking legislation in parliament intended to curb soaring rents.

Support for housing intervention

A June survey published by the state pollster CIS on Thursday showed that 76.3 % of Spaniards favor market intervention to secure housing access, while 79 % believe the right to housing should outweigh treating homes as commodities.

Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo stated that resolving the housing crisis demands stronger commitment from all government levels.

He added that his office is preparing a housing report and reiterated calls to expand public housing, limit tourist rentals, boost rental assistance, and strengthen eviction protections for vulnerable households.

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