The eviction and subsequent death of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal in Madrid has galvanized nationwide housing protests in Spain. The tragedy triggered snap parliamentary elections called by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for November 29.
Eviction, Hospitalization, and Death of María del Carmen Abascal
María del Carmen Abascal lived in her Madrid apartment for more than 70 years. Her father originally rented the property under a rent control framework in 1956, and she continued the lease after her parents died. In 2018, the real estate company Urbagesption purchased the building and raised her monthly rent from 500 euros to 2,650 euros. Although the company later lowered the demand to 1,650 euros, the amount still exceeded her monthly pension by roughly 300 euros.
She was hospitalized due to exhaustion following the removal.
“While a historic agreement was reached that would have allowed her to return to her home, this solution came far too late. This situation could have been completely avoided after a path of suffering.”
Tenants’ Union of Madrid
Protests Across Spain and Clashes in Barcelona
Abascal’s death transformed an individual housing dispute into a national mobilization. Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded streets across major Spanish cities over the weekend, while protesters established a continuous encampment in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol square, lighting candles and marching toward Parliament. Protesters hugged, lit candles, and left flowers alongside a sign reading Adios Maricarmen
to honor her memory.
The march began peacefully at Plaça Urquinaona, but disturbances erupted near Passeig de Gràcia and Gran Via after the formal conclusion. Masked groups hurled projectiles at regional police, built 28 barricades from construction materials and bicycles, and set fires across 22 different points, resulting in 13 arrests and 30 police officers sustaining minor injuries.
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Shortage | 750,000 units (growing to 1M by 2028) | Bank of Spain |
| Average Rent | 1,176 euros ($1,315) | Spanish Youth Council |
| Inflation Rate | 4.9% (September) | Idealista |
| Barcelona Arrests | 13 people detained, 30 police injured | Police |
Sánchez Schedules Snap Elections After Emergency Measures Fail
In response to the mounting pressure, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s cabinet approved a package of 21 emergency measures.
Those rejected decrees would have automatically renewed rental contracts and extended eviction protections for vulnerable tenants.
Confronted with a fractured parliament, Sánchez asked King Felipe VI to dissolve both houses of the Cortes Generales, scheduling snap general elections for November 29 instead of the originally scheduled 2027 date.
Major Unions Coordinate Nationwide General Strike
As political parties prepare for a 15-day campaign beginning November 13, Spain’s largest labor confederations—UGT and CCOO—agreed to coordinate a nationwide general strike for November 11. This marks the first joint general strike backed by the two major unions in 14 years, aimed at enforcing demands for adequate housing, wage increases, and anti-inflation controls.
The electoral calendar requires voters to choose 350 members of the Congress of Deputies across 52 electoral districts and 209 senators by direct ballot. While conservative opposition parties lead early projections, analysts note they may require support from the far-right Vox party to secure a governing majority.
