Hundreds gather in Madrid to remember evicted pensioner Maricarmen Abascal
Hundreds of people gathered near Spain's parliament in Madrid to honour an 87-year-old pensioner who died a month after being evicted from her longtime home. Her death has deepened anger over the country's housing crisis.
Hundreds of people assembled in Madrid, close to the Spanish parliament, to pay tribute to pensioner Maricarmen Abascal. She was 87 years old and died a month after being evicted from the home where she had lived for many years.
Candles and flowers were laid at the site, along with a sign reading "Adios Maricarmen". Demonstrators raised their arms and chanted slogans. The gathering served both as a farewell to the late pensioner and as a public demand for action.
Anger over the housing crisis
Abascal's death has further intensified frustration over the housing crisis in Spain. Protesters are urging the authorities to do more to address the problem.
In central Madrid, a protest camp remains in place in the Puerta del Sol square. The square is filled with tents, banners and flyers, showing that participants are not ready to end their campaign.
General strike ahead
Spain's main trade unions have announced a general strike for 11 November. The central issues are housing and wages.
The source report was updated on 8 October 2026. It gives no further details about the circumstances of the pensioner's eviction, but her fate has clearly become a symbol in the wider debate over the housing situation in the country.
