The death of Maricarmen Abascal, a minute of silence outside the Madrid Assembly

A minute's silence was held outside the chamber of the Madrid Assembly, promoted by the alternative left force Mas Madrid and the Spanish Socialist Party (Psoe-M) in memory of Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman evicted from her home on 23 September and who died yesterday in the hospital where she had been hospitalized after the eviction. The proposal to observe silence in homage to the old woman, during today's plenary session, had not obtained the necessary consent of all the council groups, in particular of the Popular Party of the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martinez-Almeida.

"From the popular parliamentary group we lament the death of Maricarmen Abascal, but we will not contribute to her political use to carry out an interested campaign", in view of the general elections of 29 November, reported PP sources, quoted by Efe. While no response was received from the far-right group Vox.

Once the plenary meeting began this morning in the Chamber, the city councilors of the progressive forces nevertheless improvised a minute for the elderly woman, during which the popular and Vox councilors remained seated.

"You despise the memory of Maricarmen so much, that you observed a minute of silence that lasted only 40 seconds of silence," Mayor Luis Martinez Almeida then said, taking the floor. “You have to be miserable to use it in the sectarian and partisan manner as you use it,” added the mayor. Subsequently, the councilors of the progressive opposition Mas Madrid and the PSOE left the Chamber to observe a second silent tribute, in memory of Maricarmen, in the atrium outside the Municipal Assembly, which was followed by long applause.