Madrid tenants’ union says Maricarmen Abascal has died

Thousands of people marched through central Madrid on Saturday, 26 September, after the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal. Protesters called for measures to curb rising housing costs and make evictions harder. [1]

Abascal had lived in her Madrid flat for more than 70 years. A steep rent increase left her unable to afford it, ANP/AFP reported via Nieuws.nl. She uses a wheelchair and was taken from the flat on a stretcher on Wednesday, then brought to hospital. Police had previously tried to evict her, and protests took place during and after her removal. [1]

Authorities estimated Saturday’s turnout at about 25,000, while organisers claimed 300,000 participants. Both figures were reported by ANP/AFP. [1]

Update

Maricarmen Abascal, 87, has reached a deal to remain in the Madrid flat from which she was evicted last week, her lawyer told reporters late on Monday. The landlord has agreed to keep her monthly rent at roughly its previous level for the next eight years, the lawyer said. [2]

Abascal had lived in the flat for more than 70 years. El País put the proposed rise in her monthly rent at €500 to €2,650, as cited in the ANP/AFP report carried by Nieuws.nl. Her eviction prompted protests, including a tent camp in Madrid and a demonstration in Barcelona. [2]

Abascal still has to sign the new tenancy agreement, Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported, as cited by ANP/AFP. [2]

Update

The Madrid Tenants’ Union says Maricarmen Abascal has died, according to a statement quoted by BBC News on 7 October. She was 87. [3]

Abascal was removed on a stretcher from her flat in September after she could no longer afford rent increases. She had lived there for more than 70 years, the BBC reported. [3]